Star of the West/Volume 3/Issue 12/Text
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Vol. III
October 16, 1912
No. 12
| PAGE | |
Illustration: Site of the Mashrak-el-Azkar in America | 2 |
"El-Abha"—Poem composed by Thornton Chase in 1911 | 3 |
Thornton Chase — Letter and Tributes | 5 |
The Mashrak-el-Azkar in America—Announcement by Bahai Temple Unity | 7 |
Abdul-Baha in San Francisco — By Frances Orr Allen | 9 |
Address by Abdul-Baha at Leland Stanford Junior University, Palo Alto, California | 10 |
Matrimony in the Bahai Spirit | 14 |
SITE OF THE MASHRAK-EL-AZKAR IN AMERICA
LOOKING SOUTHWEST PHOTO CAPTION: SHERIDAN ROAD IN THE FOREGROUND
THIS tract of land, which comprises about five acres of ground near Chicago and situated alongside one of the finest drives and lakes in America, has been paid for with voluntary contributions sent from nearly every country on the globe; from the former adherents of the seven great religions—literally, "from Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral strand."
It testifies that a new era has dawned, a new conscience has stirred humanity, a great dynamic power has reverberated throughout the world whereby mankind has come together in a bond of unity such as was never known before.
What is the Mashrak-el-Azkar? Literally, the Dawning-place of Praises. It is an edifice where peoples of different nativities, races, colors, faiths, sects, denominations, shall meet under one dome and adore the One God in the same spirit of Truth. Such an edifice could not have been erected in past centuries, but in this Glorious New Day—the Cycle of BAHA'O'LLAH (The Glory of God)—"there is an emanation of the Universal Consciousness which clearly indicates the dawn of a great unity"; and the Mashrak-el-Azkar is an outward expression of this Universal Consciousness, proving the ages of darkness have passed away and the Century of Light has arrived.
Corinne True.
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened; that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."— BAHA'O'LLAH.
Vol. III
Chicago (October 16, 1912) Elm
No. 12
EL-ABHÄ
[The Most Glorious]
Composed by Thornton Chase in the year 1911.
O LIGHT DIVINE! Invisible!
- Immeasurable Light!
Eternal as Divinity!
- Impenetrably Bright!
The living universe bows down
- And veils its face before Thee.
All angels and archangels bend
- And happily adore Thee.
O Shining Spirit! Light of light!
- All-flooding, radiant beam.
Eternally proceeding
- Forth from Him, the LORD Supreme;
To all immensity of life,
- Himself Thou art revealing.
With Thine intensity of light,
- Himself Thou art concealing.
He is the Essence, Thou the Power,
- The Glory, Majesty,
The Omnipresence. He, Unknown
- And Nameless, save for Thee!
Above all height and depth is He,
- In His own SELF abiding;
Through Thee all depth and height He fills.
- Through Thee Creation guiding.
As light from flame, Thou art from Him;
- As fragrance from the flower;
As colors from the prism'd light;
- As rainbow from the shower;
As thought from mind; or word from thought;
- As deed by vision guided.
So He and Thou art only ONE.
- Not dual, nor divided.
--PERSIAN TEXT--
--PHOTO--
THORNTON CHASE
FEBRUARY 22, 1847
SEPTEMBER 30, 1912
O Splendor of the Space-less! Thou,
- Through hosts of wandering suns,
Dost quicken dense, material spheres,
- Where these dull-shining ones
Are lords of matter, time, and space;
Their powers from Thee obtaining,
Obedient vassals of Thy will,
Beneath Thy glory waning.
Thou art the flame of Life itself,
- The Ever-living Light,
These burn with imitative fires
- Through matter's stolid night;
With semblance of creative heat;
- Worlds, moons and earthlings breeding;
Yet, all, in traceless paths confined,
- Thine ordered ways are speeding.
The planets feel Thy quivering life
- And bring forth of their kind,
All plants, and creeping things, and beasts,
- And men of dust—but blind
To Thy Realities are they—
- In earthy dungeons dwelling,
Imprisoned deep in sense and self,
- The Light Unseen repelling.
O Life of Life! O Perfect Light!
- Pierce through the darkening walls;
Bring forth the prisoners to Thy Day;
- Remove the veiling cauls;
Create new sight, new hearts, new minds;
- Reveal the heavenly vision:
Disperse the dust-formed clouds of self;
- Disclose the fields Elysian![Page 4]
O Word of God! Light, Love and Life—
- Transmuted into speech!
Thou mighty Logos—come from heaven,
- The Will Divine to teach!
Incarnate Gift to happy men,
- Endowed with power perceiving,
With speaking tongues and listening ears,
- With minds and hearts believing.
Speak Thou to self-endarkened souls!
- Command, "Let there be Light!"
So shall eternal Day appear
- To end chaotic night.
The morning stars shall sing again
- The anthem of creation:
The sons of God shall shout for joy
- With new divine elation.
Thy Word, O Light, is knowledge, truth!
- Thy University,
The boundless shining realms of life,
- Which mirrors only Thee.
This mind of mine's a twinkling orb,
- Toward Thy clear sun advancing:
A flickering mote of mental dust,
- In Thy great splendor dancing.
Thy flame is Love, the living Fire!
- Thine alchemy divine
Transmutes man's spirit into Life,
- The water into wine.
Within thy crucible, O Love,
- With Thee this heart is blending;
Its life outdrawn, to be reborn
- From death to Life unending.
Thou Holy Light! So calmly pure
- So penetrating, sweet;
The whole creation's living heart
- Is melted in thy heat.
The souls of things turn unto Thee,
- Thy radiant Love divining,
As dewdrops glisten in the dawn,
- Each one a sunlet shining.
Thou crystal Ocean, limpid, clear,
- Unstained and colorless!
All life is thine, all beauty thine,
- All beings Thee confess.
As fish in sea, I live in Thee,
- All life but Thine denying.
As gnat in flame, in Thee I die
- In ecstasy of dying.
Immortal Spirit! Loving Power!
- Thou dost my soul enthrall.
I am in Thee, and Thou in me;
- Else were I not at all.
For what I am, have been, shall be,
- Is Thine, not of my earning;
A debtor I, with naught to pay,
- Except Thine own, returning.
Thou Primal Parent! Lift Thy sons
- Into the heavens of Truth!
Give them new birth in realms of Light,
- Grant them eternal youth,
That they may serve Thy Universe
- With wisdom, strength, perfection;
True stars and suns of Thy pure Light,
- Ablaze with Thy reflection.
As iron, glowing in the fire,
- Shows glistening and more bright,
So spirits, serving Thee in love,
- Are nuclei of light.
Infilled with Thee, O Fire of Life,
- In Thee all self resigning;
Through space empyreal they fly,
- Pure flames of glory shining.
Thou All in all! The worlds of worlds
- Are filled with naught but Thee.
Both light and darkness, heaven and hell,
- Thou art, O Mystery!
Thou dost create, sustain, destroy;
- Yet Thou unchanged abidest.
With seventy thousand veils of light
- The INFINITE Thou hidest.
Ah, Wondrous Light! Invisible,
- Immeasurable Light!
Begotten of Divinity,
- Impenetrably bright!
Heaven-filled, the Universe, aglow
- Unveils its face before Thee.
All angels and archangels know,
- And happily adore Thee.[Page 5]
THORNTON CHASE
| FEBRUARY 22, 1847 | SEPTEMBER 30, 1912 |
Letter From Los Angeles, California.
Dear Friends in El-Baha: Knowing that the friends will be anxious to learn the details of the passing of our brother, Thornton Chase, we hasten to send the following:
Mr. Chase recently returned home from a business trip north, visiting San Francisco and Oakland, Portland, Seattle, and we think also Victoria and Vancouver. At all points where there were believers special meetings were held and much good work done. At San Jose, Cal., a point where the Glad-Tidings had not been proclaimed, Mr. Chase gave the Message and interested many people. At one point he visited he made a record of thirteen meetings in fourteen evenings.
While on this trip we understand that he had two attacks of the trouble which cost him his life, being in hospital twice. Thursday evening, the 26th ult., was the first most of us knew of his illness, when, at a meeting at the home of Miss Clapp, it was announced that he was seriously ill and had been operated upon that day at Angeles Hospital.
On Saturday, Abdul-Baha was reached by wire and in reply sent word to Mr. Chase that he was coming West and, if it were God's will, he would see him soon.
On Monday morning word was received that Mr. Chase was very low. The friends prayed for him constantly and about 11 o'clock word came that he had rallied. We all hoped that a miracle would be performed and that he would be brought back to life and health, even though his life hung by a thread. On Sunday telegrams were sent to the various centers, asking for the prayers of the friends.
It was arranged that the friends here, as many as could, should assemble at Mr. Chase's home for a prayer service on Monday evening, September 30th. The sun had set when a little group of earnest souls, twenty in all, from various parts of Los Angeles, from Pasadena, Tropico and Glendale, assembled in silence on a street corner amid the bustle and din of the metropolis, to pray for the restoration of their brother to physical health and strength.
About seven o'clock we reached the home and had hardly entered before the telephone rang and we were informed that Mr. Chase had just passed away. Every head was bowed as Mr. Rice-Wray hung up the receiver and said, "Friends, he has gone." Miss Wise arose and read the prayer for the departed, from the little prayer book, and Mr. Rice-Wray read two or three selections from Hidden Words, also another of which Mr. Chase was fond and which he had asked his wife to repeat to him often during his illness:
- "With patience, then, the course of duty run;
- God never does, nor suffers to be done
- But that which you would do, if you could see
- The end of all events as well as He."
Mrs. Rice-Wray went to the piano and the friends sang "Nearer, My God, to Thee." Mr. Hall recited a beautiful poem, "He is not dead; he is just away," and the friends departed, a great stillness upon each soul. We felt, indeed, that we had been in the presence of the Most High and had accompanied our brother as far as we could.
The funeral was held in the chapel of Pierce Bros. undertaking establishment on Friday, October 4th, at 10 o'clock. The body of our departed brother lay in a beautiful casket amid a sea of flowers, covering the casket, banked upon easels and even carpeting the floor.
A quartet of fine male voices sang three selections during the service—"Nearer, My God, to Thee," "Lead, Kindly Light," and the departing poem of Lord Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar."
Mr. Rice-Wray spoke of our brother as a great teacher of the Bahai Revelation; that, splendid as was his physical stature, magnificent as was his character, they were as nothing compared to his conception of God's Word and His Will for mankind. He read several selections from Hidden Words and the prayer for the departed.
A most beautiful prayer, full of the Christ Spirit of love and unity, was offered by Rev. J. K. Shellenberger, pastor of the Wilshire Boulevard Christian Church, where Mr. Chase attended when possible and where he taught a class.
Rev. C. C. Pierce spoke feelingly of the
character of our departed brother, of the
warmth of his smile and his sunny nature, of
the breadth and height and depth of his outlook,
and thought the friends who had gathered
there were to be congratulated to have
had the privilege of knowing "this royal, kingly
soul."[Page 6]
Frank G. Tyrrell, an attorney, a friend of the departed, read a short sketch of Mr. Chase's life—that he was born in Springfield, Mass., February 22, 1847, and for some time in his youth lived in the family and was a pupil of Rev. Samuel F. Smith, who wrote "America." At the age of seventeen he joined the army, serving during the last year and a half of the Civil War, entering as second lieutenant and rising to the rank of captain. So great was Mr. Chase's modesty that some of his best friends were not acquainted with this fact.
After the war he entered Brown University. Later he spent some years in Denver, engaging in the business of insurance. He was made superintendent of agencies of the Union Mutual Life Insurance Company, with headquarters in Chicago, from which point he traveled for many years. About two years ago he located in Los Angeles, Cal.
Mr. Tyrrell said such a life and such qualities would never die; that Mr. Chase was a man who inspired love and implicit trust. During the years he had known the departed, not one word of condemnation or carping criticism had he heard to pass his lips. He read from I. Thess. 4:13-18 and said that when we on earth are saying a man is dead, the angels are saying a man is born.
The body was laid in beautiful Inglewood Cemetery.
On Sunday afternoon, October 6th, a memorial service was held in Cleveland Hall, led by Mrs. Rosa V. Winterburn, who opened with the Greatest Name and prayer, followed by selections from Mr. Chase's book, "The Bahai Revelation." She traced the underlying thought of the author, to show how he had reasoned out his faith and his belief in this Revelation, taking as a foundation both the Old and New Testament, the words of the prophets, of St. Paul and Jesus Christ, building it, step by step, into a noble structure which neither his reason could deny nor his heart reject.
Some of the personal Tablets of the departed were read; also selections giving the Bahai view of death and the future life.
Mr. Rice-Wray gave a brief address, stating what the life of our brother had meant to him.
At the close of the service Mrs. Chase gave a short talk which rejoiced the hearts of all present. She told the circumstances leading up to Mr. Chase's first hearing of the Revelation and accepting the same, and how great had been his search after Truth and the conviction that he had found the thing for which his heart had always longed. She also spoke of his beautiful Christian mother who gave her life for him, and of his love for her all through life.
Los Angeles Bahai Assembly.
Thornton Chase, whose frequent visits to our assembly and whose words of good cheer and hopefulness gave us so much encouragement, has passed into the unseen. We are sad when we think of how much we shall miss him and his words of comfort, and glad that we have known him; glad that we have found in him the genuine friendship of the true man; glad that he brought to us the message and the true spirit of BAHA'O'LLAH, and left with us a unity that proclaimed a divine life.
Thornton Chase was a noble-minded and a large-hearted man. He understood the spiritual meaning of the Bahai life and had attained a height in his own experience reached by few. His greatest joy was in seeing others, especially those near and dear to him, coming into the Bahai light which he sincerely believed to be the Light of God. Every one loved him because he was a supremely lovable man. He knew Abdul-Baha as but few knew him, and to have passed away on the eve of the arrival of the one be loved so much is one of the mysteries we can never solve. Thornton Chase had a mind that was deeply spiritual as well as philosophical and had a profound grasp of the Bahai movement. In answer to a letter to one of our members, speaking of his aims in life, he says:
"I cannot doubt that some of the 'invisible Light' has shone on my pathway and all that I can do is to try to let a little of that Light reflect on others. Moments of the inner joyousness that Light brings are worth years of valley living. To breathe once the air of the mountain top is to ever long for the mountains thereafter."
Rev. David Buchanan.
The world suffered a great loss in the death
of Thornton Chase, which took place in Los
Angeles, Cal.; but looking at it in the greater
sense, which is the only true way, we should
not grieve, as death but separated him from
this narrow world of limitations to pass
through the Pearly Gates into the realms of
might and glory. Yet the world that knew
him shall know him no more, and his brilliant
efforts must now be universal, as individually
we will not again meet him here, and[Page 7]
it is fitting that we make mention of his
goodness and greatness as we knew him.
He was a man of great ability and untiring energy, great-hearted and generous, and many is the man who owes his success to his assistance and encouragement. As a Bahai he was one of the very first followers of the faith in America, and his efforts were always for the uplifting of humanity through the showing forth of the high standards of the Bahai faith in his teaching and in his life. In the early days of the Cause in America he rendered great service through his assistance to the Persian translators in the translation of, particularly, the "Hidden Words," "The Seven Valleys" and great numbers of Tablets.
His leaflets, "Before Abraham Was I Am!" and "What Went Ye Out for to See?" as well as the beautiful description of his visit to Abdul-Baha in the prison at Acca, under the title, "In Galilee," will be read and enjoyed more and more as the world more nearly approaches the reign of Peace on Earth, while his larger book, entitled, "The Bahai Revelation," bears witness of his great efforts and service in his endeavor to bring the Bahai teaching more readily within the grasp of western minds.
He was a man of great loving character, with a heart that drew to him warm friends and a love which seemed to reach out, surround and envelop you.
Oh, friend! when we consider thy loving heart, we do not feel that thou art separated from us. It seems that we should more naturally write to thee than of thee. Continue thou thine efforts for the good of the souls of men an hundredfold now that thou art free in the realm of might and power. Be nearer to the hearts of those in trouble and distress and cease not from thy labors until all the souls of men have come into Peace and Love, and mayest thou always be in the fullness of happiness and joy in nearness to thy Lord and in His good will and pleasure.
Arthur S. Agnew.
TO the Bahai Assemblies of the East and West:
Greeting:—It affords us great pleasure to announce the good news that the final payment upon the main tract of land of the Mashrak-el-Azkar site has been paid; and particularly so while Abdul-Baha, the Centre of the Covenant, is in America. The last payment was made on the second day of October, and the title to the site now rests in the Bahai Temple Unity free from encumbrances.
Praise be to God! the Generous, the Bountiful, that the hearts of the friends throughout the world have responded to the call of the Spirit. From every people, country, race and religion of the world, they have united in generous and willing gifts to the purchase of the site for this Temple of Unity.
And this has been accomplished in a little over three years. In the spring of 1909, on March 23rd, the Assemblies of America were invited by the Chicago Assembly to send delegates to a Convention to be held in that city for the purpose of purchasing ground upon which to build the first Mashrak-el-Azkar in the Occident.
Many obstacles have been in the path and great has been the anxiety of the Committee at times, who could proceed with the executive work only in proportion to the funds in hand. Therefore, the Executive Committee, in behalf of Bahai Temple Unity, desire to express their appreciation of the sacrifices made by those who have contributed to this necessary beginning of a great undertaking. May they receive a foretaste of the blessing which this Edifice shall be to humanity.
Now, we wish to call your attention to future payments needed for what is known as the Lake Shore tract, a strip of ground east of the main tract bordering on the water—insuring an outlook upon Lake Michigan—upon which $5,000.00 has already been paid. There remains a balance of $12,000.00 due, the payments spread over a period of years. The next payment—$3,000.00—will be due March 1, 1913. We hope everyone will arise with renewed vigor to clear this indebtedness,
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, 509 McLachlen Bldg., 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.
To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
O thou Star of the West!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Vol. III Chicago (October 16, 1912) Elm No. 12
"THE CHRISTIAN COMMONWEALTH"
The Tablets presented herewith are self-explanatory. We might add, however, that the matter came up when Mr. Albert Dawson, editor of the Christian Commonwealth, wrote to Mr. Joseph H. Hannen suggesting that someone be appointed Correspondent of his paper for the Bahai Cause, offering space in his columns. The letter was sent to Abdul-Baha, and the following was revealed:
To his honor Mr. Hannen—Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH El-ABHA!—Washington, D. C.
O thou my heavenly friend!
The letter which was written to you by the Editor of the Christian Commonwealth was perused. It is better that you be the Correspondent of this Journal, and spread it everywhere. This person (Mr. Albert Dawson) is a very excellent man, and showed us great love while we were in London. Therefore, the American Bahais must exercise toward him much respect. You correspond with him and send him the enclosed Tablet.
Show this Tablet that I write to you to all the Bahais, so that those friends who are able may subscribe to his paper.
Upon thee be Bahá El-ABHA!
- (Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
To his honor Mr. Albert Dawson—Upon him
be BAHA'O'LLAH El-ABHA!—London, England.
O thou beloved friend!
The letter which thou hast written to Mr. Hannen was read. I became very grateful and thankful to you. We have appointed Mr. Hannen to be your Correspondent, and we are hopeful in the Divine Favors to confirm and assist you in all the affairs.
It is my expectation to be in London before long, and then I shall find you there.
Upon thee be Bahá El-ABHA!
- (Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
A special American edition of 10,000 copies of the Christian Commonwealth was printed, containing Bahai articles, and sent for distribution in connection with Abdul-Baha's tour throughout America. About half of these have been used. Mr. Dawson has done much for us, and we can assist by subscribing for his paper, as suggested by Abdul-Baha. The subscription price from America is $2.11 per annum; it contains 16 large pages of matter and is published weekly. Address, 133 Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London, E. C., England. Copies of the American edition above referred to may be obtained from Mr. Joseph H. Hannen, 510 McLachlen Bldg., Washington, D. C.
THE EDITORS.
Donations of religious tracts and bound books published by the Swedenborgians, Adventists, Mormons, Jews, Theosophists, Vedantists, Buddhists, et al., devoted especially to the fulfillment of prophecy, are requested to be sent to the Librarian, Orient-Occident Unity, 510 McLachlen Building, Washington, D. C., for a "Comparative Religious Study Library" now being organized.
Proceeds from the sale of the book, "God's
Heroes." written by Mme. Laura Clifford Barney-Dreyfus,
will be given to the Mashrak-el-Azkar.
Friends desiring to use them for
holiday gifts should order at once from Mons.
H. Dreyfus-Barney, 15 Rue Greuze XVIE,
Paris, France. The price is $3.25.[Page 9]
THESE ARE wonderful days which we are living with Abdul-Baha in our midst. Our longing to see him was great, but much greater is our joy that our prayers were answered.
A house was taken for Abdul-Baha at 1815 California street. As our Assembly is composed of the friends in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and several adjoining towns, each day has been filled to the utmost—receiving the friends and others interested in the movement, speaking to large audiences, giving talks in the parlors to groups of earnest seekers, and giving personal interviews to others. All, alike, are recipients of his favors.
The afternoon of the day of his arrival he crossed the Bay to Oakland where he met the friends at the home of Mrs. Helen S. Goodall. For twelve years this home has been a meeting place, but on the afternoon of October 3rd it became a memorable place—blessed by the presence of Abdul-Baha. After a beautiful address he took the children in his arms, kissed them and blessed them; they felt his love, even following him into the adjoining room, and one dear baby of four wanted to know if she "might pet the God-man."
Friday evening, October 4th, he received many people at his home—people from all the cities about the Bay, and after a short address, he greeted them, welcoming them to his home. Saturday from early morning he met the friends, and in the evening attended the regular Assembly meeting held each Saturday night at the Lick building, Montgomery street, where a most wonderful talk was given—only the immediate friends being present.
Sunday, October 6th, two public addresses were given—in the morning at the First Unitarian Church in San Francisco, and in the evening at the First Congregational Church in Oakland.
Monday was also a busy day, with interviews, talks in the parlor, and in the evening an address before the Japanese Y. M. C. A. of Oakland, in the Japanese Independent Church (formerly a branch of the Congregational Church). The meeting was opened by the president of the society, Mr. Toga, reading a Scripture lesson in Japanese; this was followed by the singing of "Nearer My God to Thee" also in Japanese, then prayer was offered by the pastor of the church, Reverend Kazahira, to which all present said "Amen" in English. Following this a short address was given by Mr. Kanno, a Japanese poet and philosopher, at the close of which he read a poem in honor of Abdul-Baha. Then Abdul-Baha spoke, and it was a most interesting occasion, for the words were spoken in Persian, translated into English by Dr. Fareed, then from English into Japanese by Reverend Kazahira. It was a marvelous mingling of the East and the West and the Islands of the Sea. In the audience were Japanese students and philosophers as well as those who serve in the humbler walks of life. As Abdul-Baha passed down the aisle, mothers held out their babies for his blessing and smiled most happily as he said in English, "Good baby; Japanese baby."
Early Tuesday morning, October 8th, Abdul-Baha, accompanied by the Persian friends and fifteen others, went to Leland Stanford Junior University, where an address was given before the student body. He was enthusiastically received by the 1,500 students who listened attentively to his address, the theme of which was "The Oneness of All Phenomena." At the close of the address Abdul-Baha was given a perfect ovation by the students, who thus showed their appreciation of his wonderful knowledge, not alone of religious and philosophical subjects, but of scientific as well. For the remainder of the day he was a guest of Dr. David Starr Jordan, with whom he drove in the afternoon, going later to the home of Mrs. Merriam.
In the evening Abdul-Baha spoke at the Unitarian church. The impressive service opened with soft music as Abdul-Baha entered accompanied by the pastor, Mr. Reed, who introduced him in the following words: "It is a great privilege to have with us tonight one who calls himself a Servant of God; one who also is a great lover of mankind."
The theme of Abdul-Baha's discourse was "The Reality of Divinity." Mr. Reed closed the service by saying:
"I feel that a man of God has spoken to
us tonight. I know no better way to close
the service than with a prayer; not a prayer
in spoken words, but a prayer in silence. Let
each person pray in his own way for the
coming of the universal religion, the religion
of love, the religion of peace—a religion of
the fullness of life." There was a moment's[Page 10]
silence, then the pastor said in quiet tones,
"You are dismissed."
An interesting incident in the day at Palo Alto and the University was the attendance of Professor Rodgers and the boys of his school, which is located near Los Gatos. They came a distance of thirty miles by train and walked five miles each way to the station. But Professor Rodgers said as they took the late train home, "We are well repaid—more than repaid, and all very happy."
Abdul-Baha and the Persian friends spent the night at the home of Mrs. Merriam, after a most joyous day in which he expressed himself over and over as having been made so very happy.
Early the following morning Abdul-Baha and party returned to San Francisco.
AT LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
October 8, 1912, 10:15 a. m.
Translated by Dr. Ameen U. Fareed; stenographically reported by Miss Bijou Straun.INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY PRESIDENT DAVID STARR JORDAN.
IT IS OUR portion to have with us, through the courtesy of our Persian friends, one of the great religious teachers of the world, one of the natural successors of the old Hebrew prophets.
He is said sometimes to be the founder of a new religion. He has upwards of three millions of people following along the lines in which he leads. It is not exactly a new religion, however. The religion of brotherhood, of good will, of friendship between men and nations—that is as old as good thinking and good living may be. It may be said in some sense to be the oldest of religions.
He will speak in Persian. He will be translated by Dr. Ameen U. Fareed, a graduate of the University of Illinois and also of Johns Hopkins University.
I have now the great pleasure, and the great honor also, of presenting to you Abdul-Baha.
The greatest attainment in the world of humanity has ever been scientific in nature. It is the discovery of the realities of things. Inasmuch as I find myself present in the home of science—for this is one of the great universities of the country and well known abroad—I feel a sense of keen joy.
The noblest body of men is a body of men devoting its energies to science, and the noblest center is a center devoted to the study of sciences and arts. It ever tends to the illumination of the world of humanity, for science is the cause of the eternal honor of man, and the sovereignty of science is far greater than the sovereignty of kings. The sovereignty of rulers comes to an end; a king may be dethroned, and a sovereignty may come to a terminus, but the sovereignty of science is everlasting. For it there is no end.
Regard the philosophers of past ages. Their sovereignty is still manifest. The Roman empire passed away with all its grandeur. The Greek sovereignty passed away with all its grandeur. The past sovereignties of the Orient are but memories, whereas the sovereignties of Plato and Aristotle still continue. Even now, in all the schools and universities of the world their names are the subject of commemoration. But where do you hear the names of bygone kings? They are all forgotten and rest in the valley of oblivion. Hence we learn, verily, that the sovereignty of science is greater than the sovereignty of rulers.
Kings have invaded countries and achieved conquest through the shedding of blood, but the scientist, through his achievement, invades the lands of ignorance, conquering the realm of the mind and the heart. Therefore his conquests—the scientific achievements—are everlasting.
This being a center of education, I am very happy indeed to be present, and in your behalf do I seek confirmation, aid and assistance. May you attain extraordinary progress in your educational pursuits. May you prove as radiant lights, which shall flood regions, exploring the dark recesses of ignorance.
Inasmuch as the greatest and most fundamental teaching of BAHA'O'LLAH is one relative to the oneness of humanity, I desire to speak to you of the fundamental oneness of phenomena, which subject is one of abtruse nature dealing with Divine philosophy.
It proves that fundamentally all existence[Page 11]
passes through the same phases, and that every
given phenomenon epitomizes the others. An
old philosophic statement in Arabic declares
that "all things are involved in all things."
You will readily agree that all phenomena are nothing more nor less than aggregate expressions of single elements, and a given cellular element has its coursings or journeyings through various stages, or myriad stages, of life.
For example, the cellular elements which have gone into the makeup of the human organism at one time were in the vegetable kingdom; at another time in the animal kingdom; and, prior to that, in the mineral kingdom. They have ever been subject to transferences from one state of being, or life, to another. They have gone through myriad forms and phases, and in every form exercise special functions. The journeyings of phenomena are continuous. Therefore, every phenomenon you can see is expressive of the other phenomena. The difference is one of transferences and the length of time for processes.
For example, it has taken a certain time for this cellular element in my hand to go through the various processes of metabolism. At one time this cellular element was in the mineral kingdom, and it had its various changes and transferences in the mineral state. Then it was transferred to the vegetable kingdom, and there in the vegetable kingdom it possessed various grades and stations. Finally, it reached the animal kingdom, and in the animal kingdom it presented itself in various forms of animal organisms and in the form of man in the human kingdom. Thus it has its transferences and its coursings. Again, it reverts to its primordial elemental state, namely, the mineral. Thus it is subject to infinite journeyings, as it were, from one to another, experiencing every stage of being and life. When it appears in any distinct form or image, it has its opportunities, virtues and functions.
In the mineral kingdom it was possessed of certain mineral virtues. In the vegetable kingdom it presented vegetable virtues or qualities. In the animal kingdom it presented animal virtues—the senses. In the human kingdom it is imbued with certain qualities peculiar to the human state.
Hence, it becomes evident that every single element of phenomena is subject to transferences in myriad forms and manners, and in every form it has its peculiar virtue. Thus it becomes evident that phenomena, fundamentally, are one; that is to say, existence is fundamentally one.
If all phenomena in existence are possessed of that oneness, how much more should man possess that oneness in its state of idealism?
It is evident that ideality, as regards oneness, is expressed only in the human kingdom.
Verily, the origin of material life or existence is oneness, and its termination is the self-same oneness.
With all this fundamental unity of all phenomena, is it becoming of the world of humanity (which fundamentally is one) ever to wage war, or entertain strife?
Man is the noblest of creatures. He is possessed of the mineral virtues in his body. He is possessed of the vegetable virtues, to-wit: the virtue augmentative, the power of growth. In the animal kingdom he presents certain qualities, or functions, peculiar to the animal state, because he is possessed of sensibilities plus the human qualities, and that is a sound mind.
Considering this great oneness, is it behooving that man should ever think of strife and sedition? Is it meet that he should wage any war when all phenomena are at peace and interdependent? All the elements are at peace. Is it meet that man, who is the noblest of creatures, should remain ferocious? God forbid such a state!
Consider, when these contingent elements enjoy a state of commingling, or fellowship, then the result is life. It is freshness; it is radiance; it is comfort; it is composure, and conducive to life.
Just now, these phenomena, which you observe here and there, are all at peace. The sun is at peace with the earth upon which it shines. The zephyrs are at peace with the trees. The elements are at peace. When the least injury attacks them, when the least inharmony and discord occur among them, do you know what happens? You will have the San Francisco earthquake and fire. That is the result of war among the elements. Just a little quarreling will result in a big fire, such as you had in San Francisco a few years ago, and all its attendant losses.
This is in the mineral kingdom. Then consider what will be the result of discord, sedition and war in the human kingdom, a superior kingdom of creation. How great will be the attendant catastrophes! This is especially so when we regard the fact that man is endowed by God with mind and intellect. Verily, mind is the noblest gift of God. Verily, it is a faculty which is an effulgence of God. This is manifest and self-evident.
For instance, consider how all phenomena[Page 12]
other than man are subjects or captives of
nature. They cannot deviate one hair's
breadth from the postulates of nature. For example,
the sun, although colossal, is a captive
of nature. It cannot deviate one hair's breadth
from the laws of nature. Likewise, all these
great orbs in this interminable universe are
captives of nature. They cannot deviate one
hair's breadth from the regulations of nature.
This earth of ours, this planet, is subject to
nature.
The mineral kingdom in its entirety is subject to nature. The vegetable kingdom, with all its processes of growth, is the captive of nature. The animal kingdom is the captive of nature. The elephant, large as it is, with all its huge body, cannot deviate one hair's breadth from the institutes of nature. But this little man, small as he is, with his weak body, because he is confirmed by the mind, which is an effulgence of the Divine effulgences, can break and explode the laws of nature.
For example, according to the rules of nature, man was destined to be a denizen of the earth. He was to inhabit only the earth, but through the application of his mental faculties he breaks this law, and becomes a bird, and soars in the air. He becomes a fish, and in a submarine investigates the secrets of the sea; or he builds a fleet and sails over the seas—thus breaking laws of nature.
All the sciences and arts which you now enjoy were once mysteries of nature, and, according to the mandates of nature, they should be hidden and latent. The human intellect has broken this law and discovered the realities of objects. It has taken these mysteries out of the plane of invisibility and has brought them onto the plane of visibility. It has classified these laws, this being contrary to the postulates of nature.
For example, electricity was once one of the hidden or latent mysteries of nature, and it would have remained hidden if the human intellect had not discovered it. Man has broken the law of nature, and out of that invisible treasury has taken this energy and brought it onto the plane of visibility. Little man takes such a rebellious force as electricity, and arrests it in an incandescent lamp. This is extraordinary! It is beyond the ken of nature. In a few moments the East can communicate with the West. This is a miracle! This is beyond the power of nature. Man takes the voice and arrests it in a phonograph. The voice naturally should be a free agency, for the law of nature thus demands, but man takes it and puts it in a box. This is against nature's laws.
In all the other little things man changes the ways, and all the other discoveries were mysteries of nature. According to Nature's postulates, they should have remained hidden, but this human mind, which is the greatest of Divine effulgences, has verily broken the law of nature, and is constantly taking out of Nature's laboratory new and fresh things.
Having such a great bestowal of God, which is the greatest potency of the world, is it becoming of us to remain still like the ferocious animals, like the wolves fighting each other, killing each other? This is contrary to the law of nature, to the world of humanity.
If the animals exercise ferocity, it is simply for their sustenance, and they are deprived of the benefit of intellect. They do not reason, and cannot discriminate between justice and injustice, and therefore they are excusable. But man, when he exercises ferocity, does not do it for his food or sustenance. He does it for greed. Then is it becoming that such a noble creature, with such a delightful creation, with such a sound mind, with such lofty thoughts, with all his scientific achievements, with all these liberal thoughts, with all the new discoveries, with all the great achievements of the arts, with all the possibilities facing man as to his perceptions becoming keener, as to achieving noble things in life—for him still to go on to the battle-field, to spill the blood of his fellow men?
Man in this world is the edifice of God! He is not a human edifice. If you destroy an edifice built by man, the owner of the house will feel grief indeed, and will feel wrathy against you. How much more it is when man is destroying an edifice founded by God. Undoubtedly does he deserve the wrath of God.
God has created man noble. God has created
man a dominant factor in creation. He
has specialized man with particular bestowals;
He has conferred upon him mind; He has
given him perception; He has given him the
faculty of memory, the faculty of discrimination;
He has endowed him with keen perceptions,
the five senses. With all His good
gifts to man, which were to make him the
manifestation of virtues, which were to make
him as a radiant candle, which were to make
him a source of life, which were to make
him an agency of constructiveness—shall we
now destroy this great edifice of God? Shall
we destroy to its very foundation, this great
body-social or politic?[Page 13]
When we are not captives of Nature, when we can control ourselves, shall we allow ourselves to be captives of Nature and act in accordance with the exigencies of Nature?
In Nature there is the law of the survival of the fittest. If humanity be not educated, then, according to the natural institutes, the law of the survival of the fittest will demand of man supremacy.
What is the object of all the schools and colleges? What is the basis for the universities? They are for the purpose of rescuing man from the exigencies of Nature, to relieve or rescue from him the defects of Nature, and to endow him with the capability of controlling the benefits of Nature.
Consider: Were you to relegate this plot of ground here to Nature, leave it in its primordial status, it would become a thorny place and useless weeds would grow therein, but when we cultivate it, it becomes fertile soil, yielding a harvest.
Were you to leave these mountains to their original state, they would become jungles with no fruitful trees. When cultivation is followed, then these gardens will yield fruitful trees, and then yours will be a variegated flower garden to enjoy.
Therefore, the world of humanity should not be left to its naturalism. It is in need of education, and, according to the Divine education, must it be educated. The Holy, Divine Manifestations of God were teachers. They were the gardeners of God, in order that they might transform the jungles into fruitful orchards and make of the thorny places delightful gardens.
Then what is the particular function of man? It is that man should rescue himself, save himself, from the defects of Nature, and become qualified with the ideal virtues.
Is it behooving for us to sacrifice these ideal virtues and these possibilities of advancement? God has endowed us with a power whereby we can even overcome the laws of Nature. Ours is the power to wrest the sword from Nature's hand, and then use that sword against Nature itself. Is it meet that we should be captives of Nature still, and fail to act according to the exigencies of Nature, which demand the law of the survival of the fittest? That is, shall we allow no difference to exist between us and the ferocious animal, but continue exercising a ferocity like unto it?
There is no baser state than that of the ferocious type. There is no greater degradation for man than this. There is no worse debasement than the battle-field. It is the cause of the wrath of God! It is the cause of the destruction of the foundations of man.
Praise be to God! I find myself in an assemblage, the members of which are all peace-loving and advocates of international peace, the thoughts of all being for the oneness of humanity, and the ambition of all is to render service to the cause of humanitarianism.
Thus I supplicate God that He may confirm and aid you, that each one of you may at last become a professor emeritus, that each one of you may become the cause of spreading science, that each one of you may become a standard-bearer for peace and a bond connecting the hearts of men.
His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH fifty years ago declared the necessity of peace among the nations, and the necessity of liberalism in the form of peace among the religions. He declared the necessity of peace among the races and peace among the countries. He says that the fundamental basis of all religions is one, that religion was aimed to be a bond to unite in fellowship all men, that the differences which have arisen are due to blind imitation (or dogma), and that these dogmatic institutes are distinct from the foundations of the prophets; that because the blind imitations are various, they have caused differences and sedition, but that if the reality underlying religious teaching should be investigated all the religions would be unified, that religion would be the cause of unity and accord, the cause of binding together the hearts.
If a religion should prove to be the cause of dissension and discord, He declared it is better to do without religion entirely, for religion then is a harm, and the absence of that which is a harm is better than its presence.
Religion was destined to be a remedy of God. It was to be a panacea for the ails of humanity. It was to be a salve for the wounds of man. But if its misapplication, or misuse, has caused such a havoc, causing battle and war among men, causing bloodshed among humanity, irreligion is better then than religion.
He emphasized international peace exceedingly.
He declared humanity to be mankind—one.
All are the progeny of Adam. That is,
they are the lineage of one personage, one
family. However, it has become such a big
family, such a large family. You cannot conceive
of various races or distinct types in one
family. If some of the members of a family
were of a certain person, and if some were
members of the offspring of another person;
in other words, if we had two Adams for our[Page 14]
father, then we might say we had some difference.
But because we belong to one progeny,
one family, and they are not various or
divergent, therefore such names distinguishing
one from the other, as "This is Italian,
this is German, this is French, the other is
Russian"—this is nonsense. We are all human,
and we are all the servants of God, and
we all come from Mr. Adam's family. Then
what is this superstitious idea?
All these distinctions or boundary lines have been created by people who were despotic. Their aim was fame, their aim was conquest of land, and they made use of the patriotic feeling.
They themselves enjoyed luxuries in their lofty palaces, surrounded with every ease and affluence, enjoying the most delightful food, enjoying feathery couches for sleep, and for exercise preferring the ball room. To the poor people—the farmers, the laborers, the soldiers—they said: "Go to the battle-field while we are enjoying ourselves. We are captains and officers; you are soldiers. Go to the battle-field." The others said: "You are destroying our homes. Why?" They answered: "Because they are Germans; we are French." But those who instigated it were all self occupied. They did not let go of their pleasure. But the blood of the innocent poor was shed. For what? For a superstition such as "this is German, the other is French," when both are human: both belong to Adam, one family, one people.
This prejudice, or limited patriotism, is so often used when patriotism in the larger sense includes all nativities. There must be peace among all nations. God created one earth, one sphere, one globe, and one mankind. This earth was to be the habitation of man. But we have come forth and have imagined certain superstitional boundary lines. They are purely imaginary, yet we pronounce one section Germany, the other France, and we let them fight. We say: "O, this is Germany; this is patriotic; this is a great country and should be helped and assisted," but of the other we say: "Let it go down: let us destroy it; it is evil; it is a bad country; the people ought to be killed." Why? The line is imaginary, absolutely, and for these imaginary boundary lines is it becoming for the precious blood of man to be spilled, and for him to behead his fellow men? For what?
After all, a claim for territory is a claim just for the dust—the love of, or attachment to dust. Did you ever stop to think that we live on this earth of dust for a few days, and then we remain beneath it forever? So it is our graveyard eternally. Is it becoming of man to fight for his graveyard, which devours him, an eternal cemetery? For man to fight over his grave, to kill one another for his grave—what an ignorance! What an inadvertence! What a thoughtlessness on the part of man!
I hope that you people are reasonable enough not to fight over your graves, and that you will enjoy the utmost of fellowship, like one family—brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers—enjoying peace and having a good time.
We are all under very great obligation to Abdul-Baha for this illuminating expression of the brotherhood of man and the value of international peace. I think we can best show our appreciation by simply a rising vote of thanks.
ON Wednesday, July 17, two of our very dear friends, Grace Robarts, of Eliot, Me., and Harlan Foster Ober, of Beverly, Mass., were united in holy matrimony by Abdul-Baha, and in the evening the ceremony according to the law of our land was performed by the Rev. Howard Colby Ives, of the Brotherhood Church of Jersey City.
The friends present—the wedding guests at this marriage—had come from all parts of the world. Mrs. Helen S. Goodall, Mrs. Ella Goodall Cooper and Miss Harriet M. Wise from California; Mrs. Corinne True from Chicago; Mrs. Drum and Miss Heagle from Washington; M. Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney from Paris, and a goodly representation of our Oriental brothers—Seyd Assad'Ullah of Ghom, Persia; Dr. Ameen U. Fareed of Haifa, Syria; Mirza Valiollah Khan, of Teheran, Persia; Mirza Mahmood, of Bombay, India; Mirza Ali Akbar, of Baku, Russia, and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab of Washington, D. C. There were also many of the Bahais of New York and neighboring centers.
Never before in America had such a wedding
as this been witnessed. All seemed to
feel the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Rev.
Howard Colby Ives read the marriage rite
and after the ring had been placed upon the[Page 15]
bride's finger the following prayer was chanted
by Abdul-Baha, standing with his hands upraised,
the bride and groom kneeling:
To Mr. and Mrs. Ober—Upon them be BAHA'O'LLAH!
Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Verily, this Thy servant and this Thy maid-servant have gathered under the shadow of Thy mercy and they are united through Thy favor and generosity. O Lord! assist them in this Thy world and Thy Kingdom and destine for them every good through Thy bounty and grace. O Lord! confirm them in Thy servitude and assist them in Thy service. Suffer them to become the signs of Thy Name in Thy world and protect them through Thy bestowals which are inexhaustible in this world and the world to come. O Lord! they are supplicating toward the Kingdom of Thy mercifulness and invoking toward the Realm of Thy Singleness. Verily they are married in obedience to Thy command. Cause them to become the signs of harmony and unity until the end of time. Verily thou art Omnipotent, the Omnipresent and the Almighty!
As Abdul-Baha left the room he said: "This is a blessed evening."
Annie T. Boylan.
On Friday, September 27th, at noon, Miss Louise Matthews, of London, England, and Mr. Louis G. Gregory, of Washington, D. C., were happily married in New York City, according to the ritual of the Church of England (Episcopal) by the Rev. Everard W. Daniel. Nine persons, including the minister and his wife, and the bride and groom, were present. They represented Christian and Jew, the white and colored races and the three Bahai Assemblies of New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D. C.
After the conclusion of the ritual the bridegroom said, "Verily, we are content with the Will of God;" the bride responded, "Verily, we are satisfied with the Desire of God." Then Mr. Howard MacNutt read the Tablet of Abdul-Baha on "Marriage"; Mr. Edward J. Braithwaite followed with a Tablet revealed by Abdul-Baha to the bridegroom three years ago and Mrs. Botay read a Tablet of BAHA'O'LLAH'S, which concluded the ceremony.
so that the important work of building may be started as soon as possible.
We desire to express our appreciation of the confidence and support given us, and humbly supplicate God's blessing to rest upon all.
The Executive Committee of Bahai Temple Unity
- Per Bernard M. Jacobsen, Sec'y.
- Albert H. Hall, Pres.
FROM MARCH 29, 1909, TO
OCTOBER 1, 1912.March 29, 1909, to April 23, 1910 | $14,732.51 |
April 25, 1910, to April 29, 1911 | 10,453.59 |
May 1, 1911, to April 29, 1912 | 7,331.07 |
April 28, 1912, to October 7, 1912 | 10,612.91 |
Add March 29, 1909—Received from Chas. Scheffler, Treasurer Chicago Assembly | 3,665.44 |
| $46,795.52 | |
Land—Main tract | $32,500.00 |
Land—Lake Shore tract | 5,000.00 |
Interest | 4,086.62 |
Taxes and assessments | 2,651.43 |
Expenses | 1,789.77 |
Buildings | 105.00 |
Convention Expenses, 1912 | 130.00 |
| $46,262.82 | |
Cash in Bank, October 1, 1912 | 532.70 |
| $46,795.52 | |
Willard H. Ashton, Treasurer.
| Main Tract | |
Purchase Price | $34,500.00 |
Less—Paid by Chas. Scheffler, Treasurer Chicago Assembly | 2,000.00 |
| $32.500.00 | |
| Paid | |
April 5, 1909 | $ 5.000.00 |
December 10, 1909 | 5,000.00 |
July 1, 1910 | 5,000.00 |
January 1, 1911 | 5,000.00 |
June 14, 1911 | 2,500.00 |
June 24, 1912 | 5,000.00 |
September 21, 1912 | 2,500.00 |
October 1, 1912 | 2,500.00 |
| $32,500.00 | |
| Lake Shore Tract | |
Purchase Price | $17,000.00 |
| Paid | |
October 11, 1911 | $ 200.00 |
December 11, 1911 | 2,800.00 |
January 30, 1912 | 1,000.00 |
March 1, 1912 | 1,000.00 |
| $ 5,000.00 | |
Outstanding Indebtedness October 1, 1912 | $12,000.00 |
Corinne True, Financial Sec'y.
نجم باختر
در این دوسال گذشته از برای خدمت اهل شرق کوشش مینمود و آنکه گاهی جریده را بدون قسمت فارسی میفرستیم از این جهت قدر احساسات شریفۀ ایشان را خوب میدانیم . البّته برادران و خواهران شرقی مطلعّ شدند که مدیر قسم فارسی آقا میرزا احمد سهراب از برای « ترویج انجمن ارتباط شرق و غرب » مشغول بودند و چون الآن در رکاب حضرت عبدالبهاء مرکز میثاق در اقلیم امریکا در سفر هستند لهذا مصلحت دانستیم که مراسلات یک سر باسم معاون مدیر دکتر ضیاء بغدادی در شهر شیکاغو ارسال شود . آدرس ایشان این است : دکتر ضیاء . م . بغدادی شماره 803 خیابان مدیسون غربی . شیکاگو . ایلینوی . ایالات متحدّۀ امریکا .
و همچنین از جمیع مشترکین خواهش مینمائیم که وجه اشتراک ( چک ) باین آدرس حواله نمایند :
بهائی نیوز سرویس . پست آفیس باکس 283 . شیکاگو . ایلینوی . ایالات متحدۀ امریکا .
ای کاش که جمیع احباب مساعده فرمایند که مشترکین جدید پیدا شوند و مشترکین قدیم اشتراک خودشان را تجدید نمایند و در آستان مبارک حیّ قدیر دعا کنند که این منادی اتّحاد و یگانگی را اساسش از جهت مصاریف و امور ظاهره محکم و ثابت گردد تا این طفل عالم بهائی بزودی به درجۀ قوّت و بلوغ رسد .
Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi
803 W. Madison St.
Chicago, Ill; U. S. A.
--PERSIAN TEXT--
Bahai News Service,
P. O. Box 283
Chicago, Ill; U. S. A.
--PERSIAN TEXT--