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THIS is that which hath descended from the Realm of Glory, uttered by the Tongue of Power and Might, and revealed unto the messengers of old, the quintessence whereof We have taken and arrayed in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous that they may stand faithful unto the Covenant of the Lord, that they may fulfill in their lives His Trust, and may in the Realm of the Spirit obtain for themselves the priceless gem of Divine Virtue.
From the new translation of the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh by Shoghi Effendi.
Chant (or recite) the verses of God every morning and evening. The one who neglects this has not been faithful to the Covenant of God and His agreement....To chant but one verse with joy and gladness is better for you than reading all the Revelation of the Omnipotent God with carelessness. . . .Refresh (the soul) that thus it may soar on the wings of Revelation to the Dawning-Place of proofs. This brings you nearer to God, were ye of those who understand. —From the Book of Aqdas.
Through the protection and help of the Blessed Perfection—may my life be a sacrifice to his beloved ones!—you must conduct and deport yourselves in such a manner that you may stand out among other souls distinguished by a brilliancy like unto the sun. If any one of you enters a city he must become the center of attraction because of the sincerity, faithfulness, love, honesty, fidelity, truthfulness and loving-kindness of his disposition toward all the inhabitants of the world, that the people of the city may all cry out: "This person is unquestionably a Bahá'í, for his manners, his behavior, his conduct, his morals, his nature and his disposition are of the attributes of the Bahá'ís." Until you do attain to this station, you have not fulfilled the Covenant and the Testament of God.—From a Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
Today the pulsating power in the arteries of the body of the world is the spirit of the Covenant—the spirit which is the cause of life. Whosoever is vivified with this spirit, the freshness and beauty of life become manifest in him, he is baptized with the Holy Spirit, he is born again, is freed from oppression and tyranny, from heedlessness and harshness which deaden the spirit, and attains to everlasting life.
Praise thou God that thou art firm in the Covenant and the Testament and art turning thy face to the Luminary of the world, His Highness Bahá'u'lláh.—From a Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
--PHOTO--
The Bahá'í Temple—Mashriqu'l-Adhkár—at Ishqábád, in southern Russia. This Temple of universal religion stands in the center of nine beautiful gardens and is approached by nine avenues. In each garden is a magnificent fountain, symbolic of the water of life manifest through each of the great world prophets. Around the Temple, as its accessories, are schools, a hospice, a hospital, an orphanage
| VOL. 14 | NOVEMBER, 1923 | No. 8 |
THE symbol of the Covenant runs like a shining cord of unity through the religions of the world. The Old Testament means the Old Covenant. The New Testament is the New Covenant. And all through the Bible is to be found the promise of a still newer Covenant to be made in the Latter Day, the fulness of time, when God shall write His law in the hearts of His children, and they shall know Him from the least unto the greatest; and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd, a thousand years of peace. "The holy ones of old whenever they imagined the wondrous vision" of this day of days were "as thunderstruck and yearned for but a fleeting moment of that glorious hour."
The Covenant is a divine agreement between God and His children. He has a wonderful plan for man's life upon earth, for his destiny as a transformer of the world. "O my servant! Thou art like a sword of rarest temper and lustre, enclosed in a dark sheath, by reason of which its quality remains concealed from the craftsmen. Then come forth from the sheath of self and desire, that thy lustre may gleam forth resplendent and manifest to all the world." "O my friend! Thou art the day-star of the Heavens of Holiness, let not the defilement of the world eclipse thy splendour. Rend asunder the veil of negligence that, without veil or covering, thou mayest emerge resplendent and array all beings with the robe of life."* But to attain to this station ordained for him from the creation of the world, man must obey God's laws, which are the articles of God's Covenant, revealed by Him through His chosen messengers. The covenant with Abraham gave the glad tidings that through his seed should all the nations of the world be blessed. The covenant with Moses, uttered from the Sinai of Light, opened the door to the Promised Land. Its first articles were the Ten Commandments. The sovereignty of David, the splendor of Solomon, the flowering of Israel into a strong nation reveal the power which comes through obedience to the Covenant. The degradation of the Babylonian captivity, the ruin of Jerusalem were the result of disobedience. When the early Christians followed the covenant given by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount they became the light of the world. They united the divergent races and religions of the old Roman Empire into a brotherhood so wonderful that three hundred years after Jesus' crucifixion a man traveling from Persia to England would be greeted by the Christians, all along the way, as though he were a member of their own family.
*Hidden Words, quoted from Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, p. 82.
CENTERS OF UNITY
The collective center which unites "various peoples, tongues, nativities and opinions" is the Manifestation of God, the Great Mouthpiece of God. Said 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the Church of the Ascension, in New York City: "The collective center has ever appeared from the Orient. His Holiness Abraham was a collective center and he appeared in the East. His Holiness Moses was a collective center and he appeared in the East. His Holiness Christ was a collective center and he appeared in the East. His Holiness Muhammad was a collective center appearing among the nomadic tribes of the Arabian peninsula. Today His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh is the collective center of unity for all humanity and he has come from the East." These collective centers have established the only real and powerful interracial, international unity that has ever been known upon this earth. They are God's greatest bounty to mankind.
ELEMENTS IN THE COVENANT
The covenant of God in each prophetic dispensation consists of two parts: the teachings and the Divine Teacher; the revelation and the Prophet who reveals it. "Is it possible that one may believe in a book without believing in the teacher of that book? Is it possible to accept the sun and to reject its rays? He who rejects the rays is, no doubt, a rejecter of the sun, too. Further, many say, 'we have no need of prophets. We can have direct connection with God.' They do not know that divine prophets are the rays of the Sun of Reality and a means of educating the realities of men. Therefore he who rejects the bounty of the Sun of Reality and thinks himself not in need of it is like unto him who says that he is not in need of God and rejects both God and reality in face of the fact that all creation is receiving incessant bounty from God and is dependent upon Him as the body is dependent upon the soul."—'Abdu'l-Bahá: from the Diary of Mirza Mahmoud, November, 1912.
Again, the teachings are like the rays of the sun: the revealer of the covenant is the sun itself. And the sun is more than all its rays, for it is the divine center that radiates the rays to all corners of the universe. So is it with the Great Prophets, the Manifestations of the Sun of Truth. They are the pure centers through whom God speaks, and pours His Holy Spirit like a river of light. They are both the heavenly teachings and the power of God. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá said of Jesus: "Jesus was a Manifestation of God. Everything of him pertained to God. To know him was to know God. To have him was to have God. To obey him was to obey God. He was the source of all divine virtues. He was a vision of all divine qualities. In this vision the light of the Sun of Reality was reflected to the world. Through this mirror the Energy of God was transmitted to the world. The whole disc of the Sun of Reality was reflected in him."
Because this "Primal Mirror" thus transmits the rays of the Sun of Truth and brings them directly to bear upon the lives and thoughts of men his appearance upon earth is like the glory of a divine springtime. He focuses upon the world the radiance of a new truth, the warm rays of a new love, the showers of God's mercy, the all-renewing breezes of the Holy Spirit. From out his teachings there flowers the summer season of a new civilization.
After the most glorious summer, however, there always follow the autumn and the winter. This has been true of the teachings of even the greatest Manifestations. Their covenant is, after a while, forgotten, its light hidden beneath the clouds of dogma and superstition. When this occurs the Sun has always dawned again, from a new horizon, to fulfill the promise given by the previous Manifestation, that God would send a Successor, a new Manifestation,
who would bring in a new "springtime of His Holiness The Eternal One."
The succession of these Manifestations of God is the central law of the religious development of the world. It is the supreme teaching of the Covenant. Therefore, "when the old world is sterile and the ages are effete" we must search for the new collective center of God's new Covenant, and listen to his words, for when we have found him we have found God's new will for the new time. This is the law of the spiritual history of the race, that every Great Prophet has taken a covenant with his followers that they should follow and obey his successor, the one whom God has willed to come after him. This covenant tells men that they must be watchful for the next Manifestation, for he may come like a thief in the night. Moses took a covenant with his followers that they should find and obey the fuller covenant to be revealed in the Christ. Christ took a covenant that all should watch for the Son of Man, The Paraclete, The Spirit of Truth. Buddhists have for twenty-five hundred years waited for the fuller covenant to be revealed by Maitreya; Zoroastrians for the three great figures to appear in Persia who would bring the forces of light to everlasting victory. Muslims await the coming of Ghaim, the Mahdi, the Messiah. The Hebrews remember the words of Malachai: "Behold I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the Covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith the Lord of Hosts."
THE NEW COVENANT IN BAHA'U'LLAH
The Bahá'í Teachings present to a despairing world the glad tidings that these promises of old have been fulfilled in a new and universal way, wonderful beyond all our imaginings.
The true prophets, said Jesus, referring to the glorious ones who should come after him, ye shall know by their fruits. The following are some of the fruits of the life and the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá which prove their divine mission:
The reconciliation of science and religion so as to satisfy the minds and the hearts of men.
The statement of the Eternal Truth in the language of today so as to solve the problems of present-day society: "He diagnoses the illness and prescribes the remedy. Every day has its own secret." "The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh," wrote 'Abdu'l-Bahá, shortly before his ascension, "are the light of this age and the spirit of this century. The first one is the investigation of truth; the second the oneness of mankind; third, universal peace; fourth, the conformity of religion with science; fifth, the abandonment of racial, denominational, worldly and political prejudices—prejudices which destroy the foundation of mankind; sixth, right and justice; seventh, the betterment of morals; eighth, equality of both sexes; ninth, the diffusion of knowledge and education; tenth, economic questions, etc."
Teachings stated in so universal a form as to appeal to all races, religions and types of minds, from the least unto the greatest.
Teachings reinforced by the divine Holy Spirit which creates men anew: The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh transform, like a divine elixir, the baser metals of human nature into the shining gold of love, sacrifice. illumination. They open the eyes of the spiritually blind, unstop the ears of the deaf and make the simple, the humble, even the children eloquent apostles. "Through them flows the river of Divine Knowledge and bursts the fire of the consummate wisdom of the Eternal."
Creative words that burn away from human hearts the prejudices, hatreds, superstitions that divide religions and
races: Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá have already united a great multitude, drawn from all kindreds, all peoples and religions into the most universal spiritual brotherhood which the world has ever known. "Consider the power of the Covenant," said 'Abdu'l-Bahá to a group of visitors in Acre in 1909. "Before the coming of Bahá'u'lláh it was absolutely impossible for a Zoroastrian to be united with a Jew, a Seyyid (descendant of Muhammad), and a Mulla; and for these to be united with a Christian was impossible. But the power of (his) covenant has so gathered them together that they seem like one spirit. Although the bodies are many, the spirit is one."
The lives and deeds of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá are so perfect as to be themselves the teaching that they proclaim. The Word was made flesh and all who had eyes to see beheld its glory. Professor T. K. Cheney of Oxford University, higher critic and Bible scholar, tells of his doubts and perplexities; and then of how there came to his study one day, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, who made all things new. "Whereupon he studied the life of Bahá'u'lláh with all the rigor of the higher and historical critic, and could find no sin in him. He was, indeed, wrote Professor Cheney, what his followers loved to call him, the Blessed Perfection.
Bahá'u'lláh established the tree of his Cause in the midst of the most terrible storms of persecution and opposition from a host of enemies. Forty years he was an exile and a prisoner. But he withstood all his enemies like a mountain, until his light shone forth triumphant and illumined the world.
"And some of his signs are the unfoldment of prophecies and glad tidings, the appearance of proofs and references—the expectations of the pure and devout—and they are of those who attain.
"And some of his signs are his steadfastness before the great nations and powerful governments, even before a host of enemies, who shed blood and strive to wreck the divine edifice in every time and place. Verily, therein is a thought for those who reflect upon the signs of God.
"And some of his signs are the wonders of his explanations, the eloquence of his utterances, the rapidity of revealing his words, verses, addresses, communes, interpretations of the symbols and illustrations of the parables. By thy life, the Cause is evident and clear to those who see with the eyes of justice!"—From a Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
'Abdu'l-Bahá in the following words, spoken to some visitors at Haifa in the winter of 1920, sums up a few of the proofs of the mission of Bahá'u'lláh:
"Among the proofs are the teachings of the Blessed Beauty (Bahá'u'lláh), teachings such as have not been given since the beginning of the world. These teachings are for all mankind and in them is to be found the highest degree of counsel—advise in the utmost eloquence and beauty of expression, morals in the highest degree of perfection, politics in the highest degree of perfection, laws of the utmost firmness, public management most perfectly regulated. Whatever the world of humanity needs is found here. All the religions of the world see the utmost perfection of man in these teachings. . . . The teachings and exhortations which His Holiness Christ gave the Christians can be found in teachings. Politics are in the Qur'an: the Muslims can find political science of the most perfect order in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. Such fundamental things as are useful, such as equality and freedom—these can be found in the laws of Bahá'u'lláh. . . . The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are all-inclusive. Other teachings are like branches; but the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are like the trunk of a tree which sends out all the branches.
"These are from a person who never entered a school, who had never known a teacher, who had never associated with
people of learning and who had from his early life been in utmost tribulation. Such teachings are most illuminating. Such teachings are divine. What greater proofs than these!
"The Cause of the Blessed Beauty in every possible way is clearly proved. The proof is not of one kind only, but of all kinds. One is at a loss to know which proof to begin with. For example, in Europe, in the great assemblies, talks were given. I spoke to eminent people. I remember that one day I met a Member of Parliament. He asked me: 'What is the proof of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh? I want it in a concise and useful form.' I said: 'The concise and sufficient proof is that Bahá'u'lláh in such a prison as Acre, and when under chains, raised his banner. In Tihran he was in prison and under chains. In Acre he was in prison. Under these circumstances he raised his banner.' When I mentioned this proof he became very silent. I said: 'There is nothing recorded comparable to this. What power is this, that from the beginning of the world until today such a thing has not happened!'"
When, through an independent investigation of truth, we find the divine physician, the captain who can guide us safely through the storms into the promised kingdom of peace, then we entrust our lives to his guidance—his guidance and his teachings.
WHAT IS THE BAHA'I COVENANT?
The Bahá'í covenant is an agreement which God takes with those who recognize His latest Manifestation that they will live according to the teachings which He reveals through His Chosen Ones. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá says: "According to the irrefutable text He has taken from us a covenant that we may live and act according to the divine exhortations, commands and lordly teachings." "If a person lives for one day according to those divine exhortations and teachings (that is, as revealed in the Hidden Words,) he will be assisted to move the visible and invisible world." These teachings, "descended from the Realm of Glory, uttered by the Tongue of Power and Might and revealed to the Messengers of old," shine from the pages of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá like a world-illuminating sun, dispelling the darkness of nature and ushering in the day of the oneness of mankind, the oneness of religions, universal peace. But the center of them all, the most great characteristic of this new revelation from God, is the Center of the Covenant. In every cycle the Center of the Covenant is, first, the Great Prophet who reveals the covenant to his age. The divine, universal Manifestations of God live their teachings so perfectly that they are not only its center, they are the Covenant. Their pure teachings and pure deeds flow like a fountain ever new, from the Ocean of the Ever-Living.
But when the Great Prophet ascends from this world how is the unity which he establishes upon earth to be maintained? As long as the followers of Moses, of Muhammad and the Christ had a center of unity they were the spiritual transformers of the world. But when self-seeking leaders began to interpret their revelations, each one creating "a party round about himself," sects and divisions arose and the army of light lost its power. Without unity of command the soldiers of God can never scatter the forces of darkness. Therefore the Center of the Covenant is the essence of the Covenant.
"The Bahá'ís," says 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "are ordered to establish the oneness of mankind. If they cannot unite around one point how will they be able to bring about the unity of mankind?" Bahá'u'lláh, in order that God's glorious purpose, of uniting in the Latter Day the divergent peoples and religions into one fold might be fulfilled, bade his disciples, in his last will and testament and in many epistles, to turn after his passing
to the one whom God had purposed, the one branched from the Pre-Existent Stock—'Abdu'l-Bahá. "The purpose of the Blessed Beauty in entering into this covenant and testament was to gather all the existing beings around one point so that the thoughtless souls who in every cycle and generation have been the cause of dissension may not undermine the Cause."†
"There were dissensions after the departure of Christ because there had been no center appointed."* "In former cycles no distinct covenant was made in writing by the Supreme Pen and no distinct personage was appointed to be the standard differentiating falsehood from truth."**
"And inasmuch as in the past there have been caused great differences and divergences, and denominations have been created, every man with a new idea attributing it to God, therefore He desired that among Bahá'ís no difference should occur. Wherefore with His pen He wrote the Book of His Covenant, addressing all Bahá'ís and all His relations, saying: 'Verily, I have appointed a person who is the Center of My Covenant. All must obey him; all must turn to him; he is the expounder of My Book and he is informed of My purposes. All must turn to him. Whatsoever he says is true, for verily, he knoweth the texts of My Book. Other than he, none knoweth the Book.' And this He said because among the Bahá'ís there is not to take place any difference; all are to be unified and agreed."***
For thirty years 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Center of the Covenant, through the inspiration of God, united members of all religions and peoples into a spiritual oneness which encircles the world. He lived so gloriously the teachings of the
†Bahá'í Scriptures, p. 547.
*'Abdu'l-Bahá to Mrs. Helen S. Goodall and others, New York City, 1912.
**'Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 12, p. 227.
***Bahá'í Scriptures, p. 282. Read the wonderful words of the Covenant, pp. 279-283, also The Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 15, p. 7.
Covenant that he was, himself, the Covenant of God's oneness.
In order that the disciples of Bahá might maintain their perfect unity and through that unity become the spiritual transformers of the world, 'Abdu'l-Bahá also wrote a last will and testament, naming in clear, indubitable words the collective center whom God had chosen after his ascension. He entered into a covenant with all his followers that they should follow and obey this Center. This Center of Bahá'í unity named by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, this dayspring of guidance, this chosen one of God, this Guardian of the Cause is the glorious and inspired youth, Shoghi Effendi. When the Universal Spiritual Assembly shall be elected, from all the Bahá'ís of the world, Shoghi Effendi will be its life-long head. They will apply the divine teachings to the new problems, the new world conditions.
Thus can the lovers of the light in the Day of God attain unity of action through unity of guidance; thus will they avoid the sectarian divisions of past ages, by turning to the one center which God has appointed. To love and follow that Center is to attain perfect freedom, for freedom is not found in following all the new ideas that chance to arise in the individual's mind, ideas that often separate and divide, cause war and dissension. True freedom is attained by every individual's obeying in perfect joy the will, the law of God as revealed in His Chosen Ones. "Say, to have liberty is to observe My Commandments, if ye be of them that perceive. Should men follow that which We have revealed unto them from the Heavens of Divine Revelation they would of a certainty attain unto absolute freedom. . . . Say, the liberty that profiteth you, is naught but servitude to God, the True One, and whoso hath tasted the sweetness thereof, he surely will barter it not for the dominion of heaven and earth."*
*Quoted from The Book of Aqdas.
FROM THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA
"O my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged one, it is incumbent upon the Branches and Twigs of the Sacred Lote-Tree (i. e., the relatives of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh), the Hands of the Cause of God and the loved ones of the Abhá Beauty, to turn unto Shoghi Effendi—the youthful Branch, branched from the Two Hallowed and Sacred Lote-Trees (Báb and Bahá'u'lláh) and the fruit grown from the union of the two offshoots of the Tree of Holiness, as He is the Sign of God, the Chosen Branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom all the Branches, the Twigs, the Hands of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the Words of God, and after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal descendants. . . . . .
"The sacred and youthful Branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, as well as the Universal Assembly (Baytu'l-'Adl) to be universally elected and established, are both under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness the Exalted One. May my life be offeed up for them both! Whatsoever they decide is of God.....
"O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own lifetime him that shall become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing. He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus, should the first-born of the Guardian of the Cause of God not manifest in himself the truth of the words, 'The child is the secret essence of its sire,' that is, should he not inherit of the spiritual within him (the Guardian), and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must the Guardian of the Cause choose another Branch to succeed him.
"The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services of the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God. The election of these nine must be carried, either unanimously or by a majority, from the company of the Hands of the Cause of God, and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote, must give their assent to the choice of the one whom the Guardian of the Cause hath chosen as his successor. This assent must be given in suchwise that the assenting and dissenting voices may not be distinguished (i. e., by secret ballot)."
"And now, concerning the Assembly (Baytu'l-'Adl) which God hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be manifestations of the fear of God, and daysprings of knowledge and understanding, must be steadfast in God's Faith, and the well-wishers of all mankind. By this assembly is meant the Universal Assembly: that is, in each country a secondary Assembly must be instituted, and these secondary assemblies must elect the members of the Universal one.
"Unto this body all things must be referred. It enacteth all ordinances and regulations that are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text. By this body all the difficult problems are to be resolved, and the Guardian of the Cause is its sacred head and the distinguished member, for life, of that body. Should he not attend in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him."
"This is the foundation of the faith of the people of Bahá, may my life be offered up for them! His Holiness the Exalted One, the Báb, is the Manifestation of the Unity and Oneness of God and the forerunner of the Ancient Beauty; the Abhá Beauty, may my life be a sacrifice for his steadfast friends! is the Supreme Manifestation of God and the Dayspring of His Most Divine Essence. All others are servants unto Him and do His bidding. Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn and all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred to the Universal Spiritual Assembly. That which this body, whether unanimously by a majority doth carry, that is verily the truth and the purpose of God Himself. Whoso doth deviate therefrom is verily of them that love discord, hath shown forth malice and turned away from the Lord of the Covenant."*
*These selections from the Last Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá are taken from Dr. Esslemont's new book, Bahá'u'lláh and The New Era, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., London, and from The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahai Pub. Society, Chicago. One should read the last chapter of Dr. Esslemont's book for fuller selections from this great document.
- Into what painted picture have I stepped
- Mirror to radiance of more joyous stars,
- So vainly, vainly beat
- Spent echoes at my feet—
- Tired world that fought too many frantic wars,
- World where Jesus wept.
- A dream of sudden sleep—or I have slept
- Blind lives away behind imagined bars
- And broke what cannot break
- The heart to this awake,
- Tired world that fought too many frantic wars,
- World where Jesus wept.
- Here Memory kindles, long from memory swept,
- And Love consumes his human mask of scars.
- The thunder of his Word
- From heaven to heaven is heard!
- Tired world that fought too many frantic wars,
- World where Jesus wept.
- I came, I saw, I am. Serenely kept
- Unmarred among the multitude that mars—
- Glory of God!—be known
- Thy Presence to Thy own
- Tired world that fought too many frantic wars,
- World where Jesus wept.
THE Arabian peninsula is a vast desert inhabited from time immemorial by Bedouin tribes, and Arabs, who, with their camels and horses roamed over the great stretches of that land and on it pitched their tents. Until the coming of Muhammad, six centuries after Christ, these people developed no distinct civilization. The Bedouin tribes of Arabia were, however, before the time of Muhammad possessed of certain excellent qualities, such as generosity, faithfulness, loyalty and hospitality. Because of the dry, hot climate of the desert their mode of life was extremely simple, and they wore but little clothing. They were a physically powerful race, many of them able to outrun even their own horses. Like these famous steeds they were fiery and quick-tempered. Yet they possessed qualities upon which a sturdy nation could be built.
The Arabs are Semitic in origin, descended from Shem. As the many tribes were separated from each other their language resolved itself into a number of dialects. Each tribe lived independently, under the leadership of a chief—a sheikh or amir. But as a nation they were always influenced, or governed by the Romans, the Greeks or the Persians.
Previous to Muhammad their religion was Sabaeanism, which is star worshiping. Each tribe had a star, signifying a deity, and Arabia abounded in small temples dedicated to the gods of the stars. Of these many temples the most important was at Mecca, "Head of Towns", where all the religious gropings and crude ideals of the Arabs were assembled, and then disseminated. This chief Arabian city of Mecca contained hundreds of idols, one of which was very ancient, and thousands of pilgrims from all parts of Arabia came to Mecca to worship in wild, barbaric fashion, their rites including the sacrifice of their own children.
The chief, and daily occupation of these people was tribal warfare and internal feuds. To make war was regarded as evidence of courage; and each tribe had its particular method of carrying on warfare with other tribes. Century after century they fought. This kept them weak as a nation; therefore any foreign power could gain control over them because of their disorganized state. They had, also, many blameworthy practices, such as polygamy and drinking. They considered the birth of a daughter such a disgrace that they often buried a girl baby alive rather than let her grow up to mortify the family. The advent of a son they hailed with delight for here was one who could perpetuate the traditions of the family.
This, in brief, is a picture of the life of the Arabs at about six hundred A. D.—nomadic, quarrelsome bands of people, courageous and generous, yet possessed of many unadmirable qualities. In one section, only, a district called Yeman, was there really any civilization. Here, many eminent kings and rulers had reigned, developing a certain kind of culture. One of these rulers was the Queen of Sheba, referred to in the Old Testament.
The only literature developed by the Arabs was poetry. They loved and honored a poet and regarded him as inspired. Once a year, at Mecca, a great festival was held, when the tribes from all parts of Arabia gathered, to exchange their merchandise. Here the poets came also, and read their compositions to the people. A group of judges selected the best poem which was then hung upon the wall of the sacred temple there to stay until the following year, when it would either be removed to give
place to a better poem, or permitted to remain for many years, because it had no rival.
When Christ arose, even his divine light did not penetrate to these ancient temples of idolatry. A few of the Arabians accepted him, believing in a strange version of the trinity, and worshiping the Heavenly Father, Christ and the Mother of Christ. There were also among the tribes several descendants of Jacob who professed a belief in the Old Testament, but this belief in God, which came either through Christian theology or Mosaic creeds, was not strong enough to illumine this ancient idol-worshiping nation.
Previous to Muhammad the Arabs had no written language, but with his advent a new chapter opened in their history, an era of philosophy, science and ethics, for he ushered in a world-wide civilization.
Muhammad belonged to the family of Koreish, whose members were the custodians of the key of the temple of Mecca, the greatest honor which the Arabians possessed. His ancestors were able men; his uncle, Abú Tálib, was counted one of the wisest and most honored poets of the land. Muhammad's parents died when he was a small child. He was brought up by an uncle, according to the simple life of his country, and received no education whatever. As a young man, occupied with his uncle's business, he showed a character so sincere and straightforward that the people respected and loved him. He was called Muhammad the Faithful, Muhammad the Truthful. Then, at the age of forty, he started upon his great career as a religious teacher, and invited the people to the Oneness of God.
We have a clear, historical account of how Muhammad came to the realization of his relation to God, and his mission. Forty days he spent, in a cave near Mecca, meditating, fasting and praying. At the end of that time he came forth, with words of inspiration on his lips and a deep conviction that he had a message to deliver to his people. He confided this to his wife, a very remarkable woman, spiritual, and with executive ability which enabled her to carry on large business enterprises. She believed in him and encouraged him in his conviction that he had received a great message and must deliver it.
The story was told, in the symbolic language of that time that, while in the cave near Mecca, Muhammad had a vision in which he saw a beautiful being descend from heaven, who commanded him to recite certain words, God's first revelation to him. This heavenly being was called Gabriel, or, the Holy Spirit, and his messages to Muhammad founded the religion of Islam.
Muhammad's inspired writings begin thus: "Read, in the name of your Lord, who is He that creates! He created man from the embryo. Read! Your Lord is the most generous; it is He who guides the pen. He taught the human mind all it did not know." They end with the words: "Today I have completed your religion and made it Islam (peace.)" The revelations of Muhammad, adapted to the needs of the time, descended from on high during a period of twenty-three years. They were written upon anything he could find, often the bones of sheep, and were finally collected into the Qur'an, which was the first religious text-book of the Islamic world, and the first book written in the Arabic language.
The Qur'an planted in the minds of the Arabian people the seeds of the belief in One Invisible, Eternal God, which flowered into a spiritual and moral civilization. It established among them the principle of divine reward and punishment and gave the moral teachings of justice, love, faithfulness, purity, etc. Barbaric practices were abolished and a new, spiritual consciousness was developed. This in a short time became the mighty tree of a spiritual and scientific civilization which spread its branches
from the East to the West. And the Qur'an was the prototype for thousands of ethical, mystical and spiritual books.
Of unity Muhammad said: "O People of the Sacred Book! Come in and unite in one common center. Believe in the One God and worship no one beside Him." He also said: "The believers of any religion, whether they be Sabaean, Jew, Christian or Zoroastrian, if they believe in God and are doing good they should have no fear or unhappiness." Of forgiveness he said: "The believers are they who forgive in the face of calumny. If the ignorant curse them they will reply, 'Peace be unto you.'"
The Arabs were submerged in a sea of idolatry, having as many gods as they could find of stars and planets in the heavens, therefore a very complicated polytheism prevailed. Muhammad's great service to his people was his declaration of the Oneness of God, the Singleness of the Deity, Who is the Creator of even the highest beings, and far beyond the limited minds of men. The divine power in this teaching destroyed the belief in many deities—the chief cause of dispute among the Arabs. Realizing the greatness of this new truth, they naturally desired to spread it among their fellowmen. The keepers of the various temples, who represented the privileged class and the vested interests of Arabia could not permit the old ideas to be overthrown unchallenged; therefore there was much opposition to Muhammad and his followers. Yet, Muhammad's whole life had been so blameless and pure that the people respected and loved him and believed him to be truthful. Therefore, when he claimed to have received a revelation from God they believed him to be sincere, especially since his teachings were so clearly fitted to the needs of the times. The eloquence and poetry of his inspired words were so compelling that all the poets of Arabia took them for their model.
The Qur'an is a book of epigrams, the teachings of Muhammad given in a poetic and epigrammatic style suited to the minds and thought of the Arabian people. Muhammad told his disciples to travel among the Arabian tribes, teaching the singleness of God, and to work unceasingly, until all the idols were broken down, and the worship of the One God was established. During the twenty-three years that he himself taught Arabia was rent with great wars, instigated by the chiefs of the different tribes in their effort to annihilate the religion of Islam. Finally, through divine power, all the enemies of the faith were defeated, and, before Muhammad's death the Oneness of God was well established.
In the Qur'an Muhammad gave the history of the lives of Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Israelitish prophets, and Christ, explaining their spiritual power and their teachings. Previous to this the Arabian people had not believed in any of them, but Muhammad, through his teachings, brought them to believe in all of the prophets of Israel and in Christ, thus rendering a great service to Arabia. Referring to the prophets of Israel, and others, Muhammad said that God had sent for every people a guardian, who spoke their tongue. A chapter of the Qur'an is devoted to a history of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He called Christ the Word of God, and the Spirit of God. Therefore, the Muhammadan world today, because of the teaching of Muhammad, believes in the prophetic station of these great spiritual teachers. The teaching of the principle of the Oneness of God united the Arabian tribes, put an end to their feuds and brought them to agree upon ideals for common progress.
Muhammad was not only a religious teacher, he was a statesman and a king. His book contains many rules for moral and spiritual training, and also many regulations for the conduct of the practical affairs of the Islamic world. He abolished the custom of burying daughters alive and also many other vices. The
life of Arabia was transformed and the Arabs became a new people, noble and high-minded, guided by a new force and ruled by a new motive. After twenty-three years of incessant labor Muhammad passed from this world, leaving behind him eighty thousand staunch, zealous followers and an Arabian nation, united under the banner of Islam.
Before the end of the first century after Muhammad his religion had been carried by his apostles to Asia and to parts of Africa and Europe. Just as the Old Testament became the foundation for the Jewish civilization, so the Qur'an became the foundation for the civilization of Islam. The second century after Muhammad was marked by great works on philosophy and science. Brilliant minds appeared, not only among the Arabs, but throughout the Islamic world. With the spread of the religion of Islam into many lands the Arabic tongue spread also and came to be regarded as a sacred language. What had been practically a dead language now became one of the most scholarly and, in the first century after Muhammad, many text-books, dictionaries, etc., were written in Arabic.
Muhammad taught his disciples to study the sciences. One of his epigrams is: "Study science, even if you must travel to China." China was, in those days, a very long way off. Again he said: "A man must study, from the cradle to the grave." This teaching filled the Arabian scholars with a longing for knowledge and in the middle of the second century a great Academy of Science was founded in the city of Baghdad, which was then the seat of the Arabian government. The Caliphs of Baghdad were patrons of science and letters and they brought from all parts of the world Jewish, Christian and Persian scholars, who formed a school of translators. From among the philosophers of Greece nineteen were chosen, whose works were translated into Arabic, and the writings of learned Hindus and Persians were also translated and taught in the Arabic universities.
In a short while Baghdad, Basreh, Bokhara, Alexandria, Cairo, Morocco and Spain became celebrated centers of learning. Brilliant authors, in all departments of science appeared, and hundreds of schools and libraries arose. Observatories for astronomical research were founded, and students traveled to every part of the world in search of particular text-books, and all kinds of knowledge. The Islamic rulers sent out especially trained scholars that they might travel and bring back information, and in some libraries there were more than a hundred thousand books. Universities were established in Baghdad and Andalusia, and to their doors came many students from all over the world, especially for the study of medicine and chemistry.
From the sixth to the ninth centuries, when the Islamic world was actively studying science, expanding and spreading, Europe was submerged in the darkness of ignorance. A period of complete stagnation prevailed, all over Europe, until that country awoke from the sleep of the Dark Ages and put forth an effort to acquire knowledge. Having no scientific text-books of their own many Europeans went to the Islamic schools in Andalusia, studied Arabic for many years, and then translated into Latin such works as those of Avicenna, Rázi, Túsi, Averroes, Albucasis, al-Ghazzálí, Avenpace, Jábir and others. By this means several educational institutions were established in Europe. Andalusia and Cordova, seats of Arabic learning, became so famous that a great religious leader, who later became Pope, enrolled himself, in the year 999, as a student. Afterwards he spread through southern Europe the knowledge gained in Islamic universities. Many professors from universities in England and France became students of universities in Arabia, and Arabic words became a part of European languages.
One of the Popes of Rome, Clement XI, arranged for a party to travel to the East in order to secure scientific data.
as at that time there were in the East hundreds of important text-books upon every progressive, scientific subject. He sent a great scholar who secured many books on philosophy, history and metaphysics. Three shiploads of books were gathered in Egypt. But on the way to Italy two of the ships went down. When the remaining vessel arrived it was hailed with joy by the scholars of Rome and the books placed in the libraries. The German people also went to the East in search of knowledge. A globe of the earth, made of precious metal and inscribed with ancient Arabic letters is to be found today in one of the museums of Germany.
Because of these facts we must appreciate the scientific knowledge and the culture of Arabia, which became the foundation for the civilization of today. If it were not for that civilization of Arabia we would not have our civilization of today. A great spiritual light arose, in the religion of Islam, and spread from East to West, and illumined for a long time the entire world. In this century of knowledge and truth it is important to understand the station of that mighty civilization and to appreciate the greatness of its founder.
The Bahá'í Magazine
STAR OF THE WEST
Established and founded by Albert R. Windust and Gertrude Buikema, with the faithful cooperation of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab and Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi; preserved, fostered, and by them turned over to the National Spiritual Assembly, with all valuable assets, as a gift of love to the Cause of God.
Now published by The Bahá'í Temple Unity, the National Spiritual Assembly of America.
Albert Vail, Editor.
Jináb-i-Fádil, Persian Editor.
Edna M. True, Business Manager.
Associate Editors: Alfred E. Lunt, Stanwood Cobb, Horace Holley, Emily Vail.
Carl Scheffler, Art Editor.
PANACEA FOR WORLD PEACE
By Rajaram Vinayak Gogate, M. A.
Mr. Gogate is a scholar from India who has done conspicuous work in the education of the poor in his country. During the World Conference on Education, held in San Francisco last summer, he was very prominent, and was elected in the International Education Association as Secretary for Asia.
AS a result of the deliberations at the World Conference on Education, held this summer in the City of San Francisco, the World Federation of Education Associations was established. An executive committee of ten officers was elected to carry on the work of this Federation. The work will consist in disseminating educational information all over the world. The idea is to create through education proper understanding and good will among peoples of different nations.
Several means for bringing about understanding between peoples of different countries have been tried. Political delegations, international peace conferences, and all possible endeavors established through the influence of political powers and diplomats have been tried. Still, however, the wholesome understanding among nations has remained a matter of dreams.
Attempts to deal with grown-up peoples whose ideas, prejudices and convictions are as a rule already formed, make it difficult to come to any mutual understanding on the basis of the give and take policy. Hence these attempts have proved failures. Each diplomatic representative, being primarily actuated with the political and economic interests of his own nation, tries to outwit other confreres. Selfish and narrow nationalistic interests have always been kept in the foreground and the wider consideration of humanity at large has been lost sight of. The Great War with all its sickening horrors has opened the eyes of
all humanity, and leaders of thought in all countries have now busied themselves with devising plans which will appeal to humanity at large, and not be in the interest of those in power, alone.
It is now found to be necessary to use education as the only effective means for securing world peace. The prospective citizens of different nations are to be so brought up and so trained in schools as to acquire a sane understanding of the peoples of other countries, and not to learn to look upon them with unfounded prejudices and suspicion. Lack of sufficient information, and currency of false news through the newspapers, text books and public lectures have generated all imaginable prejudices, racial, political, religious and social. If the educators of the world feel the necessity of sanctifying their work and if they realize the sacredness of their profession, then there is great hope that the future citizens of the world whom these educators turn out, will be less susceptible to war and more inclined to understand one another's viewpoint.
It is unwise to keep on watering the leaves and neglecting the root. A careful diagnosis of the root reveals to the farmer the degenerating elements and influences that have found their way into the system of the tree. Having once understood these secrets, it becomes very easy to go about eradicating the evils and introducing in their stead elements that will foster a healthy and unhampered growth.
For such considerations as these it is essential to examine the human problems and find out the degenerating and disuniting influences that have dominated the settlement of human issues. Diagnosis of this type has led the prominent educators of our time to abandon all hope in the ability of the political diplomats to bring about wholesome understanding among peoples of the world. They are convinced that if real peace is ever to be established it will have to come through the proper bringing up of the children of the different nations. Children are the potential citizens and the hope of the future. The eradication of evil influences, unfounded prejudices and inhuman suspicions from the minds of these potential citizens of the world, if properly effected, will help to solve our problem of peace, human understanding and national good-will.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
FIFTEEN distinguished leaders of British thought have united in an appeal for American cooperation in European affairs. Their appeal states that they stand "for an international order, not based on a fortuitous harmony of separate national interests, or upon a balance of power but upon a conscious regular agreement between the peoples of the world to preserve the common order of the world, and to cooperate in other ways for the achievement of objects which lie beyond the limits of merely national endeavor. That is not the cancelment or abridgement of national patriotism, but its fulfillment. Just as an individual realizes his highest purposes in concert with his fellows, so a nation needs for its national perfection a society of nations."
They recognize that Europe's attitude is in many respects unworthy, lamenting her poverty, asking for remission of war-debts and at the same time "finding fresh means to furnish armaments upon a more lavish scale than before the war." But they plead that just because Europe is thus afflicted she needs spiritual and moral help and that the "United States is able to perform a great service of healing for the world, because of the position of detachment and security which she holds."
Of the part which America may play in bringing about universal peace 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "Other peoples of the world have to contend with international difficulties. . . . Therefore it is difficult for them to step into this field to uphold international
peace, because they are contending, warlike, victory-loving people. They cannot be instrumental in promoting international peace.
"But America, thank God, is at peace with all the world and is worthy of raising the flag of brotherhood and international peace. When the summons to international peace is raised by America all the rest of the world will cry, 'Yes, we accept.'"
The American delegates to a recent meeting of Fidas, an international association of war veterans, were pledged to seek support for a resolution demanding an international conference to reduce aerial armament. The Inter-allied Veterans' Federation at its New Orleans meeting last October advocated universal disarmament and the settlement of international disputes through a world court.
We are reminded of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's words: "Fifty years ago whosoever talked about universal peace was not only ridiculed but called a visionary and Utopian. Now, praise be to God, it has assumed such importance that everyone acknowledges that this question of universal peace is the light and spirit of this age. But they state that the pathway to this much desired goal is obstructed by a number of not clearly defined stumbling blocks which, however, can be removed by intelligently and persistently educating public opinion."
It is encouraging to find a body of military men assisting in this matter of educating public opinion.
"We must," writes Fridtjof Nansen, the well-known explorer, winner of the Nobel Prize, "form a brotherhood chain round the world. . . . Never before has suffering, misled humanity been waiting more anxiously for the Prince of Peace. Every one of us may become a worker in his phalanx on his triumphal march over the earth to raise the new race, to bring about love to your neighbor and honest will to have peace."—Our World.
A great triumph of the scientific, inventive mind which the Sun of Truth has made manifest in our age is the successful transmission during a five days' trial period of mail by airplane, from New York to San Francisco. Beacon lights laid on the plains of the middle west illumined the path of the airplanes in their flight through the night. Some of these lights were 325,000,000 candle power, and shed their light for fifty miles. Some of the airplanes had a capacity of 1,125 pounds of mail. The relay of airplanes made the flight from New York to San Francisco in a little over twenty-six hours. The distance was 2,686 miles. This reminds us of the prophecy made by 'Abdu'l-Bahá when he was crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the Celtic, December 7, 1912. He said: "In the future people will cross the Atlantic in airships. Steamers will only carry freight."
"DO we need a new religion?" is the title of a stimulating article in the September Century Magazine. The supreme need of our day, the author tells us, is a social religion, a religion with a clear social technique and program. In the Christianity of the past we have a wonderful method of personal salvation but "no way of getting things done socially which are necessary to be done to produce a new society." "What the world and church both need is a new revelation. . . . A new prophet of the social order." That such a new revelation is coming, the author finds clearly prophesied in the words of Christ. It is to be found in the great expectation of his return to complete his message. When he comes again, it has been the age-long Christian belief, human society will very quickly be changed into the Kingdom of God.
When the new prophet comes, we would add, his message and his spirit will be the return of the Eternal Christ, speaking the language of our day, solving the world problems of our time, establishing universal peace.
THE GOLDEN RULE IN BUSINESS
THE experiment in the application of the Sermon on the Mount to the clothing industry which has been made by Mr. Arthur Nash of Cincinnati, Ohio, is vividly described in a pamphlet called "An Industrial Miracle and How it Happened."* Mr. Nash, realizing that "the Golden Rule is the Divine Law governing human relationships, accepted by all religions and proclaimed by all prophets and teachers of every creed," decided to apply it in his relations with his employees and their joint relation with their customers. Their business is making clothing to order.
Mr. Nash told his employees that he was going to treat them according to the Golden Rule and that he would expect them to treat him in the same way. They talked over the plan he proposed and all agreed to try it. After five years of "experimenting" the result is called a "miracle."
There has been an amazing growth in the business of the factory, despite all the vicissitudes in the clothing industry. There have been no strikes, and a remarkable spirit of goodwill has arisen among the employees. During the great depression in the clothing industry in the autumn of 1920 when "the clothing industries of the country were said to be running at less than twenty-five per cent production and that practically all of the great woolen mills of the country were closed down" these workers who were trying to practice the Golden Rule offered to withdraw for four weeks and give their places to the needy workers who had no jobs. Some of the highly paid of the Golden Rule workmen have even made the request that their bonuses be divided among the less well paid of their fellow workers.
Mr. Nash has shared with his employees his profits and allowed them to secure stock in the company. Today one-third of the stock is in their hands. The workmen have, incidently, made
*Murray Press, 176 Newbury St., Boston, Mass.
some very valuable suggestions for greater efficiency in the factory.
This experiment has brought such a spirit of harmony and brotherhood that we begin to realize what will happen when the Sun of Truth is known in full-orbed splendor.
AT GENEVA
By Stanwood Cobb
Mrs. Cobb and I spent a week full of inspiration and spiritual good cheer at Geneva, on the occasion of the opening of the fourth annual session of the League of Nations. In spite of all criticisms made of the league, it impressed us as a sincere and striking expression of the world's desire for peace and order between nations.
The opening address of Count Ishii breathed the spirit of brotherhood, pointing the way to greater achievement for the future. Lord Cecil also gave a public speech on Saturday evening preceeding the opening of the session, summing up the past work of the League, and expressing the desire for what it should now accomplish. This speech was most sincere and earnest. I think all who were present were touched by it.
It was also an inspiration to see the League at work. Members from fifty-two nations met in harmony, to consider questions of universal import. It is true, the old war spirit was injected into the midst of things by the Greek-Italian difficulty, but if there had been no League, to whom could Greece have appealed?
When the universal society of nations includes all the peoples of the world, organized with its international court of arbitral justice, glorious results will be accomplished. "Gradually racial prejudices will be dispelled. There will come a day when the German will say to the Frenchman, 'I am a Frenchman'; and the Frenchman will say, 'I am a German.' If the governments should like to wage war the people will not agree to it. . . . If anyone is in any place he will say, 'This is my home'."—'Abdu'l-Bahá.
ON June 30th we crossed the German border on our way from Amsterdam to Hamburg. It had been years since either of us had seen Germany. We now entered it with the greatest interest and joy. We almost seemed to feel a different atmosphere when we crossed the border. Certainly then and in our further travels in Germany we felt the spirit of a great people, industrious, clean, simple, home-loving, and possessed of a vast potentiality for effort and achievement.
Through tardiness in the arrival of a letter from Herr Herrigel with addresses of Bahá'ís in Hamburg, we failed to meet any of the Bahá'ís there, but went on instead to Berlin where we spent several days with the friends.
On the first afternoon of our arrival we started out to find Frau Plessner, whose address we had received from Herr Herrigel. We found at last the street, and as we turned into a court I took out the postcard from Herr Herrigel to assure myself of the house number. Just as I was consulting the card a lady coming with her husband toward us cried out, to our amazement, "Alláh-u-Abhá!" How did she know we were Bahá'ís? The cause of what seemed so miraculous was simple, but beautiful. The postcard from Herr Herrigel which I was reading contained on its reverse side the picture of 'Abdu'l-Bahá! And it was Frau Plessner who had thus met us. If she had passed by without recognizing us we should have had a trip of disappointment. How kindly, and humorously, it seemed to us, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had led us into her very arms!
Another good fortune was that of unwittingly arriving on the very day of the weekly meeting. So we came again that evening to Frau Plessner's house and had the joy of meeting the fifteen or sixteen people gathered there, largely through the exertions and teaching of Frau Plessner. The Berlin assembly having been established only a short time ago most of the members are young Bahá'ís and need the care and teaching of their spiritual mother, Frau Plessner, who has energy and zeal and faith enough to convert the whole of Berlin if it were but receptive.
After the meeting, while we were taking tea and chatting, it was learned that I had visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá at Acre and at Haifa. Eagerness was manifested to hear of these visits, and as I talked to them of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, of his life there, his words, and of impressions of him, I as well as they had a spiritual experience. For during this talk there happened what had not happened in the course of the regular meeting in which I had already participated—the spirit of El Abhá seemed to descend upon us, and to move us even to tears. Such is the power, and will be increasingly through the ages, of the life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá; for greater than the teachings even is the life.
From Berlin we went to Stuttgart by way of Weimar where we stopped off to see the home of Goethe. This visit to Weimar, and to the house where that great thinker lived and created for so many years was intellectually one of the most stimulating pilgrimages we had ever made. The spirit of Goethe seemed to possess the house and to stir in our minds and souls for days and even weeks thereafter—a spirit wise, indomitable, creative.
Yet I felt as I pondered over his life and read his sayings, that neither he nor any other human being could now fill the place in the mind of the world that he filled for upwards of a century. Great as were his thoughts and reflections, influencing the thought-life of the world, they were after all but human and finite searchings for the truth. And in this day we have a Greater Light to go by.
I thought of the words of Bahá'u'lláh:
"When the Sun appears, then the lights of the wayfaring are extinguished."
We arrived in Stuttgart also unknowingly on the very day of the weekly meeting. While in Stuttgart we were made very happy at the pension of Frau Lohse, a Bahá'í, whose daughter is now in Washington. In the same house were some Persian young men, two of them Bahá'ís, who were studying in Stuttgart. Also there was in town at that time a charming young Bahá'í from 'Ishqábád who is studying medicine at the University of Tubingen nearby.
The meeting was by about a hundred people. Herr Herrigel gave a beautiful talk. When at the end he asked me to speak to the friends in German, I was glad that I had studied that beautiful language, and could make myself understood, even though poorly. I gave them the warm and beautiful greetings of the American, and particularly the Washington friends, and received from them the same greetings to take back.
Herr Herrigel made one remark in the course of his talk which is not only striking truth, but which should be of the greatest comfort to these people in the midst of their constant mental and physical suffering, namely, that since it was the destiny of all countries to learn the way to God through suffering, the Germans might feel they were fortunate in taking the lead in this direction.
It is true, what he said. We who know that the knowledge of God is to cover the earth with its beneficence, know also that most people, and most countries, must be brought to that knowledge through suffering. Especially is this true where wrong states of mind exist, such as pride, aggressiveness, irreligious intellectualism; or where emotions of hate or lust for conquest hold; or a sensualism that drugs itself with food and alcohol to a condition of entire unreceptivity to spiritual truths. "Blessed are the souls who are already awake, sensitive, fine, perceptive of truth, for they shall be ushered into the Kingdom with joy, not with sorrow!"
From Stuttgart we took a trip to Freudenstadt in the Black Forest. There we called upon the sweet Bahá'í family of Herr Vetteler, his wife, and three lovely children. The little girl of five tells her mother that during her sleep she has visited heaven. It was an inspiration to see this family so full of Bahá'í love and faith and joy in the midst of a suffering Germany.
Herr Herrigel has recently made a very successful teaching trip to the north of Germany, and in my next letter I will describe this trip, and give a list of places in Germany where there are assemblies or individual Bahá'ís.
THE TOKYO EARTHQUAKE
From a Letter by Mrs. Ida A. Finch En Route to Seattle, Sepember 24, 1923
YOU may not have heard directly about Miss Agnes Alexander and myself. We were together when the great catastrophe came to beautiful Japan, talking together when, without the slightest warning the house began to shake most violently. Miss Alexander escaped to the street, but it seemed impossible for me, so after it was over I joined her in the street, unharmed. We read the prayer of protection and remained on the street most of the afternoon for the quaking and shaking continued at intervals all day and for many days after. The house, as well as all other houses, was damaged and must be repaired that it may be an adequate shelter. I jumped into the little front garden and while repeating the Greatest Name saw the earth open around me and the house-front falling toward me. But I felt perfectly secure in His love.
The newspaper reports have not exaggerated. Quite a million people, in Tokyo alone, are homeless, while we
were preserved to serve Him better. There can be no other reason.
I had determined to return, before the catastrophe, and had been down in the city consulting a shipping company about it; had intended to call upon a little Scotch lady who ran a little restaurant, to give the message of 'Abdu'l-Bahá; but for some reason continued going home. Half an hour after, those districts were entirely demolished; had I remained, this letter would not be written. There was some force, stronger than my reason, which guided me home.
The readjustment will require time. All the people were stunned and incapacitated. We had the damaged house cleared up as best we could; slept in our clothes for days because of possible fires and continued earthquakes.
So far as we know, no believer in 'Abdu'l-Bahá was injured. However, no one escaped the damages due to the severe shake. No street-cars are running; there is no way of getting about except by riksha.
I left China and Miss Martha Root on August 19th, and arrived in Tokyo in time for the quake. The work in China was most inspiring. Miss Root and this servant are perfectly agreed as to that wonderful country and its spiritually receptive people. We love them, heart and soul. Really my stay in China was full of wonders; the going, the work, the returning were accomplished seemingly without the slightest effort on my part. God's guidance, His bounty and mercy are beyond my capacity fully to grasp.
O thou servant of the Sacred Threshold!
The stability of every throne and the security of the seat of every sovereign are dependent upon the grace of God and are based upon the power of Divine assistance. All the Chiefs and Rulers of the West, Emperors and Kings, that they may establish firmly their rule and dominion over their peoples, proclaim and hold fast unto this saying of Peter, the Apostle: "In truth, all authority is of God," that is to say every sovereignty is established and exercised in accordance with the Divine Purpose. By this means, they assure the sanctity of their throne and proclaim the sacredness of their sovereignty.
And now, consider and reflect! How often are rulers and governments praised and extolled in the Holy Writ of Bahá'u'lláh and how frequently allegiance and loyalty to Kings and Monarchs are enjoined upon every one! Ponder in your hearts and realize what the result will be in future!
Gracious God! They that are in authority are as yet unaware of this most great bounty bestowed upon them and know not what a rich blessing the Lord hath vouchsafed unto the rulers and governors of the world.
At this hour, in the uttermost parts of the earth, even in the continent of America, peoples are praying on behalf of the Chief and Ruler of Persia and praise and glorify his name. Ere long, ye shall see how the government of Bahá'u'lláh's native land will have become the most advanced country in all the regions of the world.
This indeed is supreme bounty and a warning unto every beholder!
(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá 'Abbás.
Translated by Shoghi Effendi.
Haifa, Palestine, Aug. 1, 1923.
FROM Mashhad we hear that Mirza Husayn Nushabadi, a noted teacher of the Cause, who has been touring the Province of Khorasan, is now back at Mashhad. We are pleased to hear that one of the sincere friends of Durakhsh, Khorasan, Persia, has dedicated a whole building, together with the required furniture, to the service of the Cause. This is now being used as Mashriqu'l-Adhkár and Pilgrim House. Another friend, at Zeergh, a village near Bushruyeh, has consecrated his property, together with all the water rights connected with it, to the Cause and has requested the Tihran Spiritual Assembly to take charge of the revenues and to spend the same for the best interests of the Movement.
The friends in Hisar have opened two schools, one for boys and one for girls, and it is hoped that other villages will follow their example. Nothing but the power of the Cause could bring such fundamental changes in the life of people who are entirely secluded from the rays of modern civilization due to the fact that there are no effective means of communication with important centers.
We are in receipt of the first letter from the Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly at Calcutta, India, from which we take the following short extract:
"Nowadays two things are most important and necessary for the promotion of the Cause and the diffusion of the fragrances of the Garden of Abhá. The first is the publication of a newspaper, and the second is the establishment of a school. Praise be to God, through the enthusiastic spirit and endeavor of Mr. Nunavvar Husayn, a school has been started, for the education of the children of the Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís. This school will provide, as far as funds are available, for the support and free education of poor and helpless children, without distinction of race or creed."
The letter further states that the monthly Bahá'í paper, El-Bahá, published in Urdu (Hindu), commenced publication in June, 1923.
In the letter from the Spiritual Assembly at Port-Said we are informed that the friends there are extending their field of activity, and are in communication with many Bahá'í centers.
Further news reaches us of the untiring services of the beloved friends in Hamadan. Through the efforts of Mirza Muhammad Khan Tabrizi who, after visiting many centers left for Baku, many souls have been won to the Cause. The prospects of the Hamadan Bahá'í schools are very bright. The Boys' School, established about sixteen years ago, has seven grammar grade classes and two intermediate ones. There are two hundred and forty pupils and the school is run by a Principal and nine other teachers. Up to date, one hundred and six students have received Government Certificates from the Ministry of Education. This year there are nineteen candidates.
The Girls' School, established about ten years ago, has six classes and one hundred and forty pupils. It is run by a Principal and six teachers. Last year twenty-three students received their Government Certificates from the Ministry of Education. It is interesting to note that this is the only girls' school in Hamadan which has been given Government Certificates.
The two Bahá'í libraries, Ta'yid and Ummid, are flourishing daily. The former has a thousand volumes, of various kinds of books.
One of the sincere friends in Mashhad asked permission to visit the Holy Land. The beloved Guardian of the Cause replied that this should be postponed until some other time. The dear friend, having set aside five hundred Tumans for the expenses of the journey
and being unwilling to spend it in any way other than for the Cause, decided to put the said sum to the best uses in the interest of the Cause. He accordingly gave three hundred Tumans to the Mashhad Spiritual Assembly for charitable purposes, one hundred Tumans to the Pilgrim House at Mashhad and one hundred Tumans to the Holy Land.
How pleased we are to receive the photograph of the sincere friends in Australia. As we gazed upon these brilliant faces we remembered the words of our beloved master, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, who, when in our midst, made us understand that the time is not far off when we shall see the true disciples of Bahá’u’lláh traveling far and wide in order to bring good-will and spiritual rest to the hearts of men. The beautiful spiritual letter from Australia, dated the 29th of June, was a real source of joy to us all. It was translated and read in our meetings and the contents will be shared with the friends in the Orient. The spirit of the Master surely opens the way and His love will enable the sincere friends to conquer hearts and souls. When next we visit the Holy Shrines we shall earnestly pray in behalf of you all that you may be strengthened the more in your noble efforts.
(Signed) Mirzá Badi' Bushru'i,
Secretary.
Notwithstanding severe trials and persecutions, which have lasted for several years, present conditions in Resht, Persia, are about normal and the Cause is going forward with utmost power, the people becoming more and more responsive. The Bábá'ís of Tihran and of most of the large cities of Persia are ablaze with love and attraction to the heavenly Kingdom. Correspondence between the Spiritual Assemblies is an encouragement to all the Bahá'ís in their service to the Kingdom.—From a letter from the Spiritual Assembly of Resht, Persia.
JINAB-I FADIL and his family, following their departure from Green Acre, were for some weeks the guests of the Boston Bahá'í Assembly. They occupied an apartment on Commonwealth avenue, in one of the most interesting sections of Boston. The Assembly meetings, for the most part, were held in their apartment and during the afternoons visitors and inquirers were received. Miss Ella Robarts, in behalf of the Assembly, served with true Bahá'í devotion, administering to the ideal comfort of the great teacher, his family, and all the friends.
On one occasion Jináb-i Fádil told of his report to 'Abdu'l-Bahá about his former teaching tour of America. He said that the news which made 'Abdu'l-Bahá happiest and brought to his face the most radiant smiles was about the Amity Convention held in Washington in 1921.
One of his most illuminating talks was at the nineteen day unity meeting. His subject was, Love, Unity, and the Holy Spirit. He showed clearly how it was impossible to have unity without love and how love was impossible without the Holy Spirit. He then explained how attraction to God and severance from worldly things would bring to man the Divine Bounty; but showed that seekers should be careful not to confound severance with asceticism.
Toward the end of September Jináb-i Fádil, at the invitation of the Springfield, Mass., and New Haven, Conn., Assemblies, spent a few days in each of those cities, rendering a glorious service of teaching. The progress of the Persian teacher in English is very pleasing to his tutors and many friends. He makes himself clearly understood and easily holds the attention of his audiences.
Among the visitors in Boston during the past month has been Dr. J. F. King of Chicago, a Hindu Bahá'í who, with a group of his fellow students of the same nativity, received the message directly from 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Chicago in
1912. Dr. King, who rejoices in his emancipation from the sectarian prejudices imposed by the caste system of his native land, speaks of the Bahá'í religion in terms of high appreciation. He visited several cities during his vacation trip.
Mr. E. Shirazi, of Cairo, Egypt, a grandson of that sturdy Bahá'í, Mirza Hassan Khorassani, also mingled with the Boston friends for a brief interval, during which he helped Jináb-i-Fádil with the work of translation. Mr. Shirazi is now a student in Philadelphia.
The public meetings of the Boston Assembly, which are well advertised, are held in Chauncey Hall. Group meetings for the spread of the teachings are held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Oglesby in Somerville, of Miss Harriet Williams in Boston, and of Mrs. Evelyn K. Moore in Cambridge.
Louis G. Gregory.
Jináb-i-Fádil went to Montreal on October 12th as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Schophlocker, He will spend a few weeks teaching in Montreal after which he will journey westward, reaching Chicago about the middle of November. Chicago will then be his headquarters for some time while he speaks upon the Bahá'í Glad Tidings in the cities of the middle west.
The Spiritual Assembly, Bombay, India. August, 1923.
WE ARE glad to tell you that through the divine power we have established a school for the Bahá'ís in which we teach Persian, Arabic and English. Many of the non-Bahá'í Parsees attend, for the study of Persian. We have a free Library, with all kinds of books, and it is a joy to see Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís sitting there together talking of the Cause with utmost love and affection.
Public meetings are often held, in a large hall, when lectures are given upon the Bahá'í Movement. People of all castes and races are invited, and large audiences attend. Many good people, of all castes, are attracted to the Teachings. After the lecture is over they go to the lecturer and the friends for more information and many of them find their questions answered and are entirely satisfied.
Mr. H. M. H. Nikú, a teacher from Persia, has been teaching the Cause in Bombay for about six months. He has left for eastern India from whence he will proceed to the Holy Land.
A letter full of love and inspiration has been received from the friends in Calcutta. They have started a magazine, called El-Bahá, and are publishing the teachings of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh and the words of His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Urdu, the international language of India. It is an attractive magazine, and the friends here have subscribed to it and are freely distributing it among the people.
The Nineteen-Day Feast is held regularly and sometimes the outsider comes to listen to the talks and take his share of the spiritual food.
We have a letter from the friends in Meshad which gives the good news that they are teaching and spreading the Cause throughout their town. They have sent teachers through Persia, and they ask us to give their sincere Bahá'í love and greetings to all the believers.
FROM Jaipur City, India, comes a beautiful letter written by Dr. Kaushal Kishore, who is foreign secretary for the new National Spiritual Assembly of India, and who is to be a special correspondent of the Star of the West. He writes that the next All-India Convention will be held during the Christmas season, in Calcutta, and on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly he cordially invites the friends to come down to India and attend the Convention.
THE Kenosha, Wisconsin, Assembly writes in their letter to Assemblies throughout the world: "Beloved Brothers and Sisters: We extend to you our
sincere love and greetings. Regarding the result of the nineteen-day letters which we send out, we will say that if all of you only knew the joy, happiness and spiritual inspiration that flow in to us continually from all parts of the world and the bond of unity that correspondence has brought among us, all the Assemblies would, immediately, also arise to regular correspondence with all Assemblies, thereby fulfilling 'Abdu'l-Bahá's exhortations for communication among all the believers, both nationally and internationally. 'Abdu'l-Bahá will then greatly rejoice and the solidarity of the various Assemblies be assured."
Hamburg, Germany, August 23, 1923.
IN Hamburg, up to the present time there has been only a small light which has radiated the glory of His Beauty, and for a long time this could only shine among a few. But now for almost a year it has sent out its rays, and greets the hearts by its appearance. Since then we feel how His assistance is always working with increasing power and His Spirit is refreshing the hearts.
Until two months ago there were just separate little groups, meeting regularly in their homes. But now we have a general meeting for all, once a week, on Mondays. There is much to do, for now is the time! The hearts of men are open, because they must endure much privation and many trials. We rejoice that He has granted us the favor of being able to scatter the seeds in all hearts. May it indeed bear much fruit in order that love may show the way which will lead them out of trouble.
Although our circle is small, yet the friends are very active in spreading His Teachings. It is a great joy to us when letters or, better still, friends, from other cities come to us. We heartily beg therefore that when any of you come to Europe and to Germany you will not forget our little group. It gives us much strength and will make it easier for us to overcome the difficulties which every new day brings. Especially in such a large city as Hamburg there are many difficulties, because the friends must ride a long way to meetings and carfare is very expensive with our present resources. It is possible that the cars will soon cease running because there is no money to keep them going. Also the expenses for a hall and advertising and postage are so great that we cannot any longer hold public meetings in a large hall, and the teachers find it difficult, on account of the high fares, to go about with the Message. Then too, all the friends, through the difficulties of supplying their daily needs, must spend most of their time in earning means of living and so can give but little time to spreading the Heavenly Teachings.
But all this does not rob us of courage and we are full of joy that in our city the Cause has begun to grow after being so long without apparent result. The greater the difficulties, so much more brightly shine His light and His word, which indeed teach us that we must endure great tribulations. It is our one great longing that we may be able to sacrifice our lives in order that mankind may come to the Light. He will certainly give us strength to remain firm and strong, when others become weak, so that for Him we may lead them and make them full of illumination.
(Signed) Dr. Hermann Grossman.
SINCE the first of July meetings have been held every Sunday afternoon, at 3:30, in the foundation-hall of the Bahá'í Temple at Wilmette, just north of Chicago. The glorious Temple of religious unity which is to be built above this foundation-hall, and the universal principles for which the Temple stands have awakened immense interest. A large group, investigating the Bahá'í teachings for the first time, has appeared at every meeting. A constant stream of visitors is coming to the Temple every day in the week. Some of them say that they do not believe in any religion; but as
soon as they study the Bahá'í ideals which will be symbolized so resplendently in this great Temple, they go away feeling that religion is something quite new and wonderful when interpreted as the teaching of the oneness of God, the oneness of mankind, universal brotherhood, the underlying unity in all existing faiths.
A heating plant will be installed about the first of November so that services can be held in the Temple foundation-hall through the winter. Mr. Louis Bourgeois is building a beautiful studio on the Temple land between Sheridan Road and Lake Michigan, where he can work on the fuller drawings of the Temple.
Lady Blomfield is making ready a great joy and blessing for the Bahá'í world in a history of the Cause. Many of the accounts and incidents of the life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in this book Lady Blomfield secured from the members of the family of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The book has received from Shoghi Effendi his final revision.
ONE expression of the new life sweeping through the Bahá'í world from the invisible Kingdom since the Master's ascension is the number and the brilliant quality of books published in the last few months. At the annual convention in Chicago last May the little book of prayers and Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, recently translated by the beloved Guardian of the Cause, Shoghi Effendi, was distributed. The more we read and commit these prayers to memory the more do they sing in our inmost spirit a new and heavenly melody.
When we were sitting in the presence of 'Abdu'l-Bahá one evening in Haifa in the autumn of 1919, he spoke of the need of a great Bahá'í translator, like Fitzgerald, whose masterful translation made famous the poems of the Persian poet, 'Umar Khayyám.
We now have in Shoghi Effendi this peerless translator, for he translates both as a finished English scholar and the chosen "expounder of the Words of God."
Prayers of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Prayer of Bahá'u'lláh, Translated by Shoghi Effendi; Bahá'í Publishing Society, Chicago, $.10.
BAHA'U'LLAH AND THE NEW ERA, by Dr. J. E. Esslemont, is the brilliant introduction to the Bahá'í Cause for which the English speaking world has been waiting. It is so complete in its presentation, so condensed, so profound, so original and organized in thought, so simple in style, yet scientific in its analysis that one reads its pages in pure joy. It has searching chapters upon the history of the Cause, upon religious unity, prayer, spiritual healing, true civilization, the way to peace, religion and science, prophecies fulfilled, Bahá'í prophecies for the future. The book has been carefully revised by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. Shoghi Effendi wrote to Dr. Esslemont of this book: "Your book, I am sure, is the finest presentation that has so far been given of the Cause and I am confident that it will arouse immense interest."
Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era may be had directly from Dr. J. E. Esslemont, Fairford, Cults, By Aberdeen, Scotland, for 8s. 6d., net; or from the Bahá'í Publishing Society, Chicago, or from the American Assemblies, for $3 a copy, postage additional. Published by George Allen and Unwin, Limited: London.
"BAHA'I SCRIPTURES" is the title of a compilation of the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, just published by Brentano. It was prepared by Mr. Horace Holley. It is the most comprehensive collection of Bahá'í writings yet assembled in one volume of English translations. The volume contains nearly six hundred closely printed pages.
The selections "have been arranged in a very careful order so that the reader sees the Revelation unfolding before his very eyes (as it were) from Chapter One which leads up to the mission of the Bab, to Chapter Nine which closes with 'Abdu'l-Bahá's wonderful words on the fulfillment of his purpose and life here on earth."
Some of the sublime Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, to the Kings and Rulers, the Tablet of Wisdom, of Joseph, of the Manifestation, and many others, are here published in English for the first time; also many hitherto unpublished words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
The book contains marvelous words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá concerning the Covenant. It ends with life-imparting selections from his Last Will and Testament.
Bahá'í Scriptures may be had from the Bahá'í Publishing Society, Chicago, for a special price of $3.50 a volume, postage additional. Assemblies may order lots of ten or twenty-five from Mr. Roy Wilhelm, 104 Wall Street, New York.
UNITY TRIUMPHANT is just from the press in London. Its author, Miss Elizabeth Herrick, presents in ringing words, with a wealth of brilliant quotations from Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "The Call of the Kingdom, An Introduction to the Bahá'í Teachings and a Testimony of Faith in the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh." She relates the new teachings most effectively to Bible prophecies and illumines with the new light many Bible verses. The book is aglow with the enthusiasm of one who has discovered the greatest Glad Tidings in the world. It makes us long to proclaim the Good News from every housetop. Withal the book is beautifully printed.
London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 7/6 net. Copies may also be ordered from Miss Elizabeth Herrick, 21, West Side, Clapham Common, London, S.W.4.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CHINA
A new book by E. T. Chalmers, Werner, London; George G. Harrap and Company, Ltd, 1922.
THIS volume, of four hundred and fifty-three pages, with thirty-two colored illustrations, is valuable not only for the beauty of hidden treasures which it unfolds to Western minds, but for the better understanding which it offers of the people from whom these myths and legends sprang.
The author, formerly in His British Majesty's Consular Service at Foochow, and later a member of the Chinese Government Historiographical Bureau, Peking, states in the preface: "Owing to the fact that so little work has been done in Chinese mythology by Western writers I found it better in dealing with this subject to go directly to the original Chinese texts." He also states that, as far as is known, his is the only monograph on Chinese mythology in any non-Chinese language.
A knowledge of Chinese sociology being "a prerequisite to the understanding of their ideas and sentiments," the writer devotes the first fifty-nine pages of his book to a summary of the subject. He then deals with the philosophical side, before setting "forth in English dress these myths which may be regarded as the accredited representatives of Chinese mythology." He tells us that in spite of research and conjecture the origin of the
Chinese people still remains undetermined. Under the heading, Laws, we find that the Chinese people evolved a series of excellent legal codes which have been highly praised by competent judges. The great exemplar of these codes was a statesman in the service of the first ruler of the Wei State, in the fourth century.
Ecclesiastical matters have been neglected during the Republican regime, and a large number of temples converted into schools. Since the change, in 1905, in the educational system, the author sees "rapidly growing up a force that is regenerating the Chinese people, and will make itself felt throughout the whole world. It is this keen and shrewd appreciation of the learned, and this lust for knowledge which, barring the tragedy of foreign domination, will make China, in the truest and best sense of the word, a great nation."
The queue, and foot binding—the former a badge of servitude inflicted by the Manchus and the latter in force since 934 A. D.—are now discountenanced, the writer tells us, the queue having been legally abolished when the Chinese rid themselves of the Manchu yoke in 1912.
Funeral rites, although "less rigid and ceremonious since the institution of the Republic, have retained their essential character down to the present day." A Chinese classic says, "Ceremonies are the greatest of all things by which men live," and, the author writes, "It is in the matter of ceremonial observances that the East and West have misunderstood each other perhaps more than in all others. Where rules of etiquette are not only different, but are diametrically opposed, there is every opportunity for misunderstanding, if not estrangement."
For forty centuries the Chinese have paid close attention to the cultivation of the soil and their vegetable culture has reached a high state of perfection, the author tells us. "They have made great canals, bridges, aqueduets, and the longest wall there has ever been on the face of the earth." And finally, "They have produced one of the greatest and most remarkable accumulations of literature the world has ever seen, and the finest porcelain—some magnificent painting, though hardly any sculpture and little architecture that will live."
The three religions of China—Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism—the writer states "were even regarded as forming one whole, or at least, though different, as having one and the same object;" the translation of the Chinese words being, "The three are one," or, "The three unite to form one," and, "When they reach the extreme the three are seen to be one."
About one-fifth of the volume is devoted to the myths of China—myths of the stars, of thunder, lightning, wind, and rain—myths of the waters, fire, epidemics, medicine, exorcism, etc.
The beautiful legend of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, the Guardian Angel, is related. "As Mary is the guiding spirit of Rome, so is Kuan Yin of the Buddhist faith." It is said of her: "The men love her, the children adore her, and the women chant her prayers. Whatever the temple may be, there is nearly always a chapel for Kuan Yin within its precincts; she lives in many homes, and in many, many hearts she sits enshrined." The legend describes how, through sincerity of purpose and the resisting of all earthly tests set before her, she attained perfection.
The legends of the eight immortals of the Taoist religion, one of the most popular subjects of Chinese representation, are told. "In them we see 'the embodiment of the ideas of perfect but imaginary happiness which possess the minds of the Chinese people.' Three of them were historical personages; the others are mentioned only in fables and romances. They represent all kinds of people." It is interesting to note that two of the immortals were women.
In his conclusion of this most valuable volume, which gives a new insight into the life and thought of the Chinese
people, the author writes: "But for the Chinese philosophers we should in all probability have had more Chinese myths, but philosophy is unifying, and without it we might have had a break-up of China and perhaps no myths at all, or none especially belonging to China as a whole and separate independent nation;" and also, "It is not a small thing to have conquered myth with philosophy, especially at a time when the Western world was still steeped in the grossest superstitions. Therefore we may be thankful that the Chinese were and are a peace-loving, sober, agricultural, industrial, non-military, non-priest-ridden, literary, and philosophical people, and that we have instead of great myths a great people."—"But if the real test of greatness is purity and justice, then Chinese myth must be placed among the greatest of all. . ., and it is invariably just and pure."
Agnes B. Alexander.
WORLD FELLOWSHIP
THE World Fellowship boys and girls in many parts of the world now call their own particular group by the name of some Garden—as for instance, the "Garden of Peace," the "Garden of Loving Service," the "Garden of Happiness," and many, many other beautiful Gardens. One of the Friends writes: "The sweet fragrances from the Gardens are wafted by divine breezes to all parts of the world. Let us ever be grateful to Bahá'u'lláh for his bounty."
Besides making many attractive and useful things, through arts and crafts work, to be sold for the Temple fund, the World Fellowship boys and girls make and collect things for orphans and for the poor, sending them to the "Home Stations," which are now organized in almost every country where World Fellowship abounds. These Home Stations, according to the "World Fellowship" periodical, are cooperative, active, inspirational centers "for the furtherance of the cause of unity and the elimination of misery. May these magnets multiply until indeed One Home is realized through the application of the love of God through His Manifestations."
The following are some extracts from a few of the inspiring letters received from the World Fellowship groups, through the "Children's World-Wide Correspondence Unity," a service of World Fellowship, 31 Valley Road, Montclair, N. J.
From the Friends in India: "Beloved Friends: The World Fellowship has chosen this (the village of Daidanaw Kalazoo, the home of the first Indian Mashriqu'l-Adhkar) for our station in India because all pertaining to it is worthy of the highest recognition and the assistance of all the Bahá'ís of the world. Let us remember these brave little villages in our daily prayers. Here is a place where can be found the true Bahá'í spirit. . . . . . A small bamboo "Studio" is under construction as a temporary educational and industrial center and meeting-place for the growing youth. Handlooms will be introduced, carpentry and mechanical arts will flourish.
"Our school must be free, and it will draw many girls and boys from neighboring villages.
"I am very glad that already six Home Stations are established. God will turn them into six hundred very soon. I am very glad to learn that you have established a Home Station in Haifa. You are blessed by the Greatest Holy Leaf, and God will confirm you in your sincere and noble efforts. . . .I hope, through the prayers of the friends of God, the Indian Mashriqu'l-Adhkár will be a reality in the near future. It may take some time but God is Great! And through His blessings much can be done within a short time."
From the Garden of Love, Bombay, India: "Love and embraces to all the spiritual children of Abhá. Tell them about their loving sisters and brothers in India."
From the Garden of Peace, Springfield, Ill.: "I am a little boy of the Garden
of Peace. We have good meetings every week. We are quite a crowd, and we expect to have more in the future. Peace is what we need the world over! ". . .I do not know you personally, but I love you with all my heart. I hope that some day we may all meet face to face, but I know we have already met heart to heart, for our teacher has told us that you love everybody. I hope that you received the package from our Garden of Peace for the poor sufferers, and we will send another soon."
The "Helper" of the Garden of Light, Kenosha, Wis., writes: "Our first activity for the Garden was in accordance with the desire of one of the Bahá'í Juniors, that the children save up and donate baskets to the poor. This makes a fine beginning and, as time goes on, we know that other children of various races and religions will join us. They will learn good morals, useful arts and crafts, etc."
From the Cherry Garden, Tokyo, Japan: "I pray God that here in the Cherry Garden will be sown seeds of various hues—from different lands—to make it most beautiful and divine. The divine breezes will be wafted unto the peoples of the East and the West from this Garden!"
From the Garden of Prayer, Indianapolis, Ind.: "This is surely a wonderful name for us. Prayer is so sweet and uplifting. 'Abdu'l-Bahá says: 'There is nothing sweeter in the world of humanity than prayer. Man must live in a state of prayerfulness. The most blessed condition is the condition of prayer and supplication. Prayer is conversation with God.' . . May nothing retard the growth of the tender seeds in our Garden of Prayer."
The World Fellowship Girls of Mandalay, Burma, write: "We are sending you 'Scenes of Mandalay,' along with little dolls, which we hope the children will like... .We receive letters from Kenosha, Haifa and Bombay, and they contain glad tidings which fill our hearts with joy and thankfulness. The Bahá'í Centers all over the world are unselfishly exerting themselves to spread the Cause. How wonderful it is to hear that the wild tribes of Africa are beginning to accept the glad tidingsl This news gladdens us as well as encourages us, because if even these wild tribes can come to know the True God, there is every hope that the people around about may do the same some day. In the meantime we must be steadfast in our faith, and be as 'lighted lamps.' In the twelfth verse of the Hidden Words, it is written: 'O Son of Existence! My lamp thou art and My Light is in thee. Therefore be illumined by it and seek no one but Me, for I have created thee rich, and upon thee have I showered abundant grace.'
"Our long vacation is nearly over and we shall go back to college. We will write to you from there. With our love and greetings to all our World Fellowship sisters,
"Mya and Hla."
Voice records of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's message of Glad Tidings, spoken while he was in America, in 1912, are being distributed through the Assemblies, and orders may be placed with that one in each Assembly who is elected to take charge of publications. The price of the record is one dollar.
Copies of the wonderful portrait painted by Miss Juliet Thompson of 'Abdu'l-Bahá when he was in America may now be had from Hagelstein Bros., 100 Fifth Avenue, New York City, in black, or brown, at $3 for the larger size, $1.50 for the smaller. If copies are ordered by Assemblies in lots of ten or more there will be a twenty per cent discount. 'Abdu'l-Bahá himself carried the original painting from America to Haifa, where it now remains.
WE have been asked to outline suggestions for classes to study in systematic and comprehensive fashion the Bahá'í teachings. These courses may also serve as a guide for individual study and help to equip us for the most glorious work in all the world, the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The spiritual teacher needs to be well prepared, not only by purity of motive and radiance of heart but by a thorough knowledge of the divinely revealed writings. With knowledge and the assistance of the Holy Spirit each one can become a vivifier of the world.
THE MONTH OF THE COVENANT
November 12, 1817—The birthday of Bahá'u'lláh, the great Revealer of the Covenant.
November 26—A day hitherto celebrated by many Bahá'ís as the anniversary of the appointment of the Center of the Covenant, 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
November 28, 1921—The Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá into the Supreme Kingdom.
With the help of the wonderful compilation prepared by Mrs. Mary M. Rabb we have outlined a course of readings on the Covenant. Members of the Bahá'í groups might study, each, a part of the references given and bring to the meeting oral or written reports of the essence of the pages they have studied. It will make a most inspiring series of meetings for, as 'Abdu'l-Bahá says, "In this day divine confirmations and assistance are the support and helper of those who are firm in the Covenant and more especially of those who proclaim the Covenant and Testament." "All the believers in all meetings and gatherings must mention the Covenant and raise the song of the Covenant." The following books and references will serve for four or more meetings:
1. Covenants, Ancient and Modern: Hidden Words, p. 51; Daily Lessons (Mrs. Goodall and Mrs. Cooper), p. 99; Genesis, 9:9-13; 12:3; 17:1-7; 17:18-20; 26:2-5; 28:13-25; Exodus, 34:27-28; Deuteronomy, 29:2-29; Jeremiah, 31:31-36; Romans, 11:25-27; Ezekiel, 37:26; 34:25; Isaiah, 9:7f; 54:10; Revelation, 21 and 22: Micah, 4:1-3; John, 5:24-25; 14:30; 19:16; Matthew, 23:39; 26:29; Acts, 3:20-25; Some Answered Questions, p. 46; Ten Days in the Light of Acre, pp. 61-62; Gospel of Buddha, Open Court Pub. Company, p. 217. The Book of Ighan, passim; Some Answered Questions, the opening chapters; Bahá'í Revelation, Thornton Chase.
2. The New Covenant. When a World Teacher Comes How Shall We Know Him?
Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, by Dr. J. E. Esslemont, chapters 1-4; 13-15; Some Answered Questions, part 1; Ighan, pp. 137-185; Bahá'í Proofs, pp. 117-267; The Brilliant Proof.
3. The Covenant and Its Dayspring of Guidance. The Divine Gift of Infallible Inspiration.
Star of the West, Oct. 1923, pp. 209-213; Some Answered Questions, part 3; Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, p. 113; Bahá'í Scriptures, pp. 69 ff; 192 ff; paragraph 329; pp. 236 ff; Tablet of Ishráqát (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh).
4. The Centers of Unity and the New Chapter in the Book of the Covenant.
A. The Center of the Covenant: Star of the West, No. 14 (November 23), of every volume, from volume 3 to 12 inclusive, and special compilation on the Covenant, in Vol. 8, pp. 205 ff; Bahá'í Scriptures, paragraphs 527, 529, 540, 547, 549, 550, 579; Light of the World, pp. 137 ff.
B. Shoghi Effendi and the Universal Spiritual Assembly.
Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, last chapter; The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá; Some Answered Questions, pp. 198 ff; Bahá'í Scriptures, paragraphs 767, 768, 60, 904, 63, 84, 86, 113, 118; Light of the World, 73; Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 53, etc; pp. 28-29.
1. Articles presenting month by month the universal Bahá'í principles for the new world order.
2. Articles and editorials on current events and their spiritual significance for the coming Kingdom of God. Signs of the times which already reflect the dawn of this Kingdom of Peace.
3. Travel articles by Bahá'ís and others which bring the world conditions and the new hope right to our doors.
4. New historical accounts of the rise of the Bahá'í Cause. Splendid biographies by Jináb-i-Fádil, Jináb-i-Avarih and others. The wonderful life of the Báb, by Jináb-i-Fádil, appeared in the October issue; the story of the life of Qurratu'l-'Ayn, in August.
5. Articles on the heavenly pathway of pure and sanctified living, and on subjects such as, the new revelations of immortality, in the May issue, communication and divine inspiration (October issue), the real reincarnation and return, progress after death, etc., in coming numbers.
6. News of the spread of the Bahá'í teachings in all parts of the world.
7. New translations of the words of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá by the inspired pen of Shoghi Effendi.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP
A. Send in well written, scholarly articles approved by your local Assembly.
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How we can help:
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bring endless inspiration to whomsoever reads them.The Persian section is omitted this month because we had nine pages of Persian last month. Our gifted editor, Jináb-i-Fádil has also prepared a splendid section of nine pages for next month. It is our hope that soon we will be able to enlarge our STAR OF THE WEST so that we can present nine pages of Persian every month. Thus our magazine can become more and more a link between the Orient and the Occident.
