THE
| PAGE | |
Assemblies in the Occident | 2 |
Words of BAHA'O'LLAH | 3 |
Tablet from Abdul-Baha to the Spiritual Assembly of Baku, Russia—Illustrated | 3 |
Portions of Tablets from Abdul-Baha | 5 |
Editorials | 7 |
Four Questions and Answers—Tablet from Abdul-Baha | 8 |
ASSEMBLIES IN THE OCCIDENT.
Secretaries are requested to see that their Assembly is correctly represented.
CANADA. MONTREAL, QUE.—Weekly meeting held Friday evening at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Maxwell, 716 Pine Avenue.
ENGLAND. LONDON, ENG.—Regular meeting of Assembly Friday, 8:15 p. m., at 10 Cheniston Gardens; Wright's Lane, Kensington, High Street. Bahai Reading Room, 137a; High Street, entrance from Wright's Lane.
GERMANY. STUTTGART, WURTEMBERG. — Regular meeting of Assembly Friday evening. Kanzlei strasse 24P. ZUFFENHAUSEN.—At the home of Herrn und Frau F. Sweizer, Karl strasse 26J.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AKRON, OHIO.—Meetings every Thursday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Russell L. Brooker, 29 Hawthorne Avenue.
BALTIMORE, MD.—Regular weekly meetings Tuesday evening at 629 West North Avenue, and Sunday evening at 516 Broadway. Residence of Secretary, 629 West North Avenue.
BANGOR, MICH.—Meetings are held at alternate homes the first and third Sundays of the month. Address, Mr. Byron S. Lane, R. F. D. 5.
BOSTON, MASS.—Sunday morning, at 11 o'clock, in Beckton Hall, 200 Huntington Avenue; study class, Friday, 8 p. m., at 69 Gainsborough Street. Miss Ethel Clement, Corresponding Secretary, 344 Harvard Street, Cambridge, Mass.
CHICAGO, ILL.—Regular weekly meeting, Sunday, 11 a. m., at Corinthian Hall, 17th floor Masonic Temple, State and Randolph Streets. Address of Assembly, P. O. Box 283. George Lesch, Secretary. Bahais coming to Chicago who wish to be met at the railroad station and be put into communication with the friends in this city, may address Mrs. H. Greenleaf, 4855 Kenmore Avenue. Telephone Ravenswood 3025.
CINCINATTI, OHIO.—Meetings held Wednesday evening at the homes of the friends. Residence of Secretary, Mrs. Annie L. Parmerton, 543 Mitchell Avenue.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.—Regular weekly meeting of the Assembly Friday evenings, at the apartment of Dr. Pauline Barton-Peeke, Rose Building; also evenings at the
home of Dr. and Mrs. C. M. Swingle, 2101 Prospect Avenue.
DENVER, COLO.—Regular meetings, Sunday 3:30 p. m., at 4141 Xavier Street; Monday, 8 p. m., at 1608 Broadway, and group meetings Thursday afternoon at homes of the friends. G. Nathaniel Clark, Secretary 4141 Xavier Street.
FRUITPORT, MICH.—Regular weekly meetings, Sunday 2:30 p. m., at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Peterson. Mrs. John Dermo, Secretary.
ITHACA, N. Y.—Regular meeting of Assembly. Friday evening at the residence of Dr. W. E. House, 241 South Cayuga Street.
KENOSHA, WIS.—Regular weekly meeting, Sunday, 10:30 a. m.; Sunday school, 9:30 a. m., at Gronquish Hall, 218 Park Street. Address of Assembly, Mr. Charles Carlson, Secretary, 418 Crate Street. Mrs. Anna Bohanan, Secretary, Women's Assembly.
LOS ANGELES, CAL.—F. B. Beckett, Secretary, 429 Citizens’ National Bank Building.
MUSKEGON, MICH.—Meetings held Wednesday afternoon at 52 Jackson Street. Mrs. Helene Bagg, Secretary.
NEW YORK, N. Y.—Regular weekly meeting, Sunday, 11 a. m., at Genealogical Hall, 226 West 58th Street.
OAKLAND, CAL.—Charles R. Lee, Secretary, 1523 Jackson Street, San Francisco. Mrs. Cordie Cline, Corresponding Secretary, 233 Griffith Avenue, San Mateo, Cal.
PORTLAND, ORE.—Regular weekly meeting, Thursday, 7:30 p. m., at 501 Yamhill Street, corner Fifteenth Street. Mrs. Nettie Nash, Secretary, Kenton Station.
SEATTLE, WASH.—Regular weekly meeting held at 2916 Beacon Avenue, South.
SPOKANE, WASH.—Regular weekly meeting held Friday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Killius, 124 Fifth Avenue. Mrs. Cora H. Ditmars, Secretary, 12 Sharpe Avenue.
SUMERDUCK, VA.—Meeting on fourth Sunday; address, care R. H. Duckett.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Regular meetings Friday evening at 8:15; Sunday morning at 11:15, at 1219 Connecticut Avenue; Wednesday evening at 8:00, at 1937 Thirteenth Street, N. W. Mail address of Assembly, P. O. Box 192. Residence of Secretary, Mr. Joseph H. Hannen, 1252 Eighth Street, N. W.
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Vol. II Chicago (June 24, 1911) Rahmat No. 6
WORDS OF BAHA'O'LLAH
This is a leaf which the Breezes of the Will of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Extolled, have stirred. Can it be still when the rushing winds blow? No, by the Lord of the Names and Attributes! Rather do they move it as they list, for Being belongeth not to nonentity in the Presence of the Eternal. His decisive command did come, causing Me to speak for His celebration amid the worlds. Verily, I was not save as one dead in the presence of His Command, the hand of thy Lord, the Merciful, the Clement, turning Me. Can anyone speak on his own part that for which all men, whether high or law, will contradict Him? No! by Him who taught the pen eternal mysteries, save him who is strengthened by One, Mighty and Strong!
TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA TO THE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF BAKU, RUSSIA.
Upon them be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!
HE IS GOD!
O ye friends of God! O ye manifestors of bounties and favors of the Beauty of ABHA!
That illumined Orb (Baha'o'llah) hath risen from the horizon of sanctity and holiness to shed its Rays upon the expanse of the universe and that mysterious Beloved hath rent assunder the veil of concealment and appeared in the Assemblage of Humanity so that the wooers of His heart-captivating Beauty attained to His meeting, and torrents of spiritual teachings have descended from His Holy Lips, that we may be enabled to hear with the ear of the spirit, walk in the Path of the Beloved; see His Attributes and Manners; behold His Character and Principles; drink the Cup of Bestowal, taste the sweetness of His Reality, obey His Religion and emulate His glorious Example.
O ye friends! His gentle nature was excellent and His sweet disposition sublime. He was in the utmost humility and submission, and perfect kindliness and praise. Worthy courtesy adorned His Being. He was a refuge for every affrighted one; an asylum for every discomfitted one; a fountain for every thirsty one; a Highway of Salvation for every wandering one; a healing to every sick one, and a dressing for every wounded one. In brief, ye have undoubtedly heard and read His Holy Instructions. But alas! we have entirely neglected them and are pursuing our own desires, following our own opinions, seeking our own ideas, and chasing our own shadows! Is it not a shame to change His Rose Garden into a bramble patch? His Delectable Paradise into a ruined abode? To seek to eradicate His Foundation and completely destroy His structure? To forget the Divine Instructions and cast behind our backs
the Commands of God; with our lips to speak of the waves of the tumultuous Ocean, while inwardly we are dying of thirst; and while claiming divine wealth of consciousness, we are so poverty-stricken in spirit as to be but illusive phantoms—blown about by every wind?
I declare by the Bounty of the Blessed Perfection that nothing will produce results save intense sincerity! Nothing will be productive of fruit save complete advancement toward God! Everything is condemned save severance and every idea is fruitless and unacceptable save supplication, communion, prayer and obedience! We must entirely collect our scattered thoughts, purify and sanctify the house of our existence from every attachment and make the palace of our hearts the nest and shelter of the Dove of Holiness. Then, and not
PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FRIENDS IN BAKU, RUSSIA. DR. SUSAN I. MOODY AND MR. SYDNEY SPRAGUE FOREGROUND.
till then will the significance of confirmation and assistance become evident and known, the power of the Kingdom become apparent, and the hosts of the Supreme Concourse run swiftly into the arena of heavenly conquest, to gain victory over the East and West of the hearts, and make the North and South of the spirits of men the flowery regions of the Love of God!
Praise be to God! that the Province of Caucasia—Baku—is a glorious light in the Lamp of Oneness, a wonderful effulgence from the Sun of Beauty of the Divine Beloved. Its believers are sincere and its friends are the favored ones in the Threshold of Oneness. Truly I say this is a most great Bounty and a most eminent Gift!
Upon ye be the Glory of God!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
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PORTIONS OF TABLETS FROM ABDUL-BAHA.
Thou hast written concerning the meetings and gathering-places of the believers of God. Such assemblies and gatherings will greatly aid the promotion of the Word and all the audience, whether friends or not, will become affected. But when the friends have the intention of entering into these meetings they must disengage the heart from all other reflections, ask the Inexhaustible Divine Confirmation, and with the utmost devotion and humility set their feet in the gathering-place. Let them not introduce any topic in the meeting except the mentioning of the True One, neither must they confuse that merciful assembly with complex outside questions. They must either teach or open their tongue in propounding arguments, either commune or supplicate and pray to God, either read Tablets or give out advices and exhortations.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
You have written concerning the spiritual meetings. The foundation of the spiritual meetings must be the teaching and delivering of the Cause of God. In these meetings the believers and maid-servants of the Merciful must proclaim the proofs and arguments and explain the signs of the appearance of the Beauty of ABHA—May my life be a sacrifice to the beloved ones! Meanwhile they may read some Tablets and Communes, and at the end of the meetings, if they desire to sing with the utmost supplication and meekness, it is acceptable. But the fundamental principle of the establishment of spiritual meetings is for the sake of teaching and delivering the Truth so that those souls who are present may become informed of the Divine Evidences and Proofs.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Thou hast inquired regarding the teachings and instructions of BAHA'O'LLAH! Thou must instruct the people of the world in the Love of God, that they may eradicate the foundation of warfare and strife, be attracted by the Glad-tidings of the kingdom of ABHA, lay the basis of love and amity, raise the melody of affinity, and the oneness of the Kingdom of humanity; transmute tyranny and persecution into love and faithfulness, efface the traces of bloodshed and carnage; construct the edifice of reconciliation, dispel the darkness of estrangement, diffuse the light of unity; change the poison of animosity into the honey of sympathetic affection; destroy the religious, national and social prejudices from the individuals of humanity; live and act, with and toward each other as though they were from one race, one country, one religion, and one kind.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
But regarding teaching the Truth: One must teach with wisdom, amiability, good-naturedness and kindness. And should anyone circumscribe conditions (for teaching the Truth) it will become rare.
But concerning the established (organized assemblies), altogether outside conversation must not be introduced therein. Nay, rather, conversation must be confined to the reading of verses, the perusing of Words and affairs which pertain to the Cause of God, such as explaining proofs and evidences, delivering clear and irrefutable arguments and announcing the signs of the Beloved of the creatures.
Those souls who are in that assembly before their entrance therein must be adorned with utmost purity, turn their faces toward the Kingdom of ABHA
and enter infinite humility and meekness, and when someone reads Tablets they must be silent and attentive. Should anyone desire to speak, he must do it with the utmost courtesy and with perfect eloquence and fluency by the consent and permission of the people of the assembly.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
The believers of God must assemble and associate with each other in the utmost love, joy and fragrance. They must conduct themselves (in the meetings) with the greatest dignity and consideration, chant divine verses, peruse instructive articles, read the Tablets of Abdul-Baha, encourage and inspire each other with love for the whole human race, invoke God with perfect joy and fragrance, read the verses of glorification and praises of the Self-Subsistent Lord and deliver eloquent speeches.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Thy mission in America for the present is this: Thou must travel as far as possible to every part and pass through cities and towns, summoning everyone to the Beauty of ABHA, raising the Call of the Kingdom and proclaiming at the top of thy voice:
"A hundred thousand glad-tidings be upon ye that the Sun of the Reality of the Beauty of ABHA hath shone forth from the Horizon of the Contingent Being and hath illumined the regions with the lights of the Most Great Guidance. The realities of the Old Testament and the Gospel are already fulfilled and the Mysteries of the Heavenly Books have become manifest. This is the century of the Merciful One and the Period of Joy and Gladness. O ye heedless ones, become mindful! O ye sleeping ones, be awakened! O ye blind ones, become seeing! O ye deaf ones, become hearing! O ye dumb ones, become speakers! O ye dead ones, become living! O ye deprived ones, take a portion! This is the effulgence of the Merciful and the moving of the Depthless Sea. This is the outpouring of the wonderful and new springtime and the falling of the showers of the Bounty of the Most Great Lord!"
This is thy mission. (Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Thy letter was received and read. Thou hast invited me to America, saying "In that region and in that country there are many fragrant and multi-colored flowers; likewise there are thorns and thistles; but Abdul-Baha should not look upon the thistles of the desert. He must hasten to that country for the sake of the flowers." This simile is very beautiful but when a gardener invites a man to his garden, first he will arrange all the flowers with the utmost elegance, beauty and art, then he will invite his guest. Moreover, there are differences among the flowers. Therefore pray thou that harmony may be created so that your country find the capacity for the Presence of Abdul-Baha. I have the utmost yearning to meet all of you; but unless the conditions which have been previously mentioned are realized, my trip to those parts would be difficult, for it would produce no results.
I hope that all the friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful may be united with each other, so that Abdul-Baha without any cloud may travel from the East to the West. It is hoped that this unity may become realized.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
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[Continuing the BAHAI NEWS]
PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street., Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Albert R. Windust—EDITORS—Gertrude Buikema Persian Editor.—Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, 1800 Belmont Road, Washington, D. C., U.S.A. Associate Editor.—Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, Chicago.
TERMS: $1.00 per year; 10 cents per copy.
Note—Until further notice, distribution in the Orient is through Agents. Make Money Orders payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA.
O thou Star of the West! HE IS GOD!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
| MONTH | NAME | FIRST DAYS |
| 1st | Baha' (Splendor) | Mar. 21 |
| 2nd | Jalal (Glory) | Apr. 9 |
| 3rd | Jamal (Beauty) | Apr. 28 |
| 4th | Azamat (Grandeur) | May 17 |
| 5th | Nur (Light) | June 5 |
| 6th | Rahmat (Mercy) | June 24 |
| 7th | Kalamat (Words) | July 13 |
| 8th | Asma (Names) | Aug. 1 |
| 9th | Kamal (Perfection) | Aug. 20 |
| 10th | Eizzat (Might) | Sept. 8 |
| 11th | Masheyat (Will) | Sept. 27 |
| 12th | Elm (Knowledge) | Oct. 16 |
| 13th | Kudrat (Power) | Nov. 4 |
| 14th | Kowl (Speech) | Nov. 23 |
| 15th | Massa'ulk (Questions) | Dec. 12 |
| 16th | Sharaf (Honor) | Dec. 31 |
| 17th | Sultan (Sovereignty) | Jan. 19 |
| 18th | Mulk (Dominion) | Feb. 7 |
| Four Intercalary days. | ||
| 19th | Ola (Loftiness) | Mar. 2 |
| (Month of fasting.) | ||
| Vol. II | Chicago, (June 24, 1911) Rahmat | No. 6 |
It is reported that Abdul-Baha will attend the First Universal Races Congress to be held at the University of London, July 26-29, 1911.
In devoting the contents of this issue of the STAR OF THE WEST to the Words of BAHA'O'LLAH and Abdul-Baha, we trust the Life-Giving Breeze from the Kingdom of ABHA may be wafted to all parts of the world. "Verily, He doeth whatsoever He willeth!"
The Annual Conference of the Persian-American Educational Society, held in Washington, D. C., June 16-17, has attracted widespread attention and accomplished excellent results. A report of the conference will be presented in the next issue of the STAR of THE WEST. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, editor of our Persian section, is to be congratulated for his untiring energy in attending to the innumerable details so indispensable to the work of this Society and the success of the Conference. Because of the labor devolving upon him, it was deemed advisable to omit the Persian section for this issue.
STAR OF THE WEST
FOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Questions, sent by Professor Cairns, Edinburgh, June 24th, 1910:
(1) Is it right to speak of the Báb and of Baha'o'llah as Manifestations, or as Incarnations?
(2) Do the Bahais teach the doctrine of reincarnation?
(3) Did Baha'o'llah claim to supersede the Revelation of Jesus, the Christ?
(4) Did Baha'o'llah claim to be greater than Jesus, the Christ?
Answers of Abdul-Baha (the servant of God), Haifa, July 20th, 1910:
O daughter of the Kingdom!
Your letter has arrived. Its contents caused spiritual happiness and heartfelt gladness.
I wish to answer in detail, but at present my health is not very strong; I am fatigued, so am obliged to write in short. When I feel better, I will write at length, for verily, you are occupied with the work of the Kingdom and are serving the world of Humanity, and therefore are worthy of correspondence.
New I will write shortly.
1st Answer. The Bahais believe that the incarnation of the Word of God, meaning the changing of the nature of Divinity into Humanity and the transformation of the Infinite into the finite, can never be. But they believe that the Báb and Baha'o'llah are Manifestations of a Universal Order in the world of humanity. It is clear that the Eternal can never be transient, neither the transient Eternal.
Transformation of nature is impossible. Perfect man, Manifestation, is like a clear mirror in which the Sun of Reality is apparent and evident, reflected in its endless bounties.
2nd Answer. In the teaching of BAHA'O'LLAH, the reincarnation of the spirit in successive bodies is not taught.
3rd Answer. BAHA'O'LLAH has not abolished the teachings of Christ. He gave a fresh impulse to them and renewed them; explained and interpreted them; expanded and fulfilled them.
4th Answer. BAHA'O'LLAH has not claimed himself to be greater than Christ. He gave the following explanation: That the Manifestations of God are the Rising Points of one and the same Sun; i. e., the Sun of Reality is One, but the places of rising are numerous. Thus, Reality is One, but it is shining upon several mirrors.
Your own answers were good; and now I have myself answered in short.
Upon you be the Glory of the Most Glorious!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Translated by Monever Khanum.
(PERSIAN TEXT)
