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Vol. III
December 12, 1912
No. 15
The Mashrak-el-Azkar in America | 2 |
A Glimpse of Abdul-Baha at Green Acre, Maine — By Mirza Ahmad Sohrab | 3 |
Address by Abdul-Baha at the "Eirenion," Green Acre | 4 |
The "Center of the Covenant" in Chicago | 7 |
Persian Section | 11-16 |
IN No. 12 Vol. III of the STAR OF THE WEST the Executive Board of Bahai Temple Unity rendered a full statement of its work during the existence of that Unity. The original tract of Land has been completely paid for and $5,000.00 paid on the second tract across Sheridan Road, giving a Lake shore outlook. The original price of this second tract (293 feet) is $17,000.00, to be met by annual payments of $3,000.00 each, Sept. 1st. Because of Abdul-Baha's great longing to see the main tract clear of debt the owner of the second tract was seen and kindly postponed the September payment of $3,000.00 to March 1st.
Just before leaving Chicago, Abdul-Baha instructed the Secretary that the friends of America should raise the debt on the Lake Shore tract as quickly as possible and then collect money to begin construction of the building of the House of Prayer, the Mashrak-el-Azkar.
Abdul-Baha says: "Today the Mashrak-el-Azkar in Chicago has great importance. All the Bahais must turn their faces in that direction"; also, "The matter of the Mashrak-el-Azkar does not depend upon personal endeavor, it needs united endeavor."
When in Washington, D. C., in November, Abdul-Baha gave the following Prayer for his return to America. Cannot the Bahais of America make this a daily prayer and dedicate their lives through "united endeavor" to prepare the Mashrak-el-Azkar so that—if God Wills—Abdul-Baha may dedicate the Building?
When asked if he would return to America, Abdul-Baha said: "It is in God's hands. Pray for me to return and say: O BAHA'O'LLAH! Confirm Abdul-Baha in the Cause of God. Confirm Him in the servitude of the East, so that He may not spend all His time in the Orient; that He may return to America and occupy His time in the Western World."
- CORINNE TRUE,
- Financial Secretary Bahai Temple Unity.
Consider the times of the past: Regard for instance the days of His Holiness Christ and days subsequent thereto. How many were the libelous things attributed to Him! How many were the utterances in the Temples against Him! How many titles were given unto Him, they gave the title Beelzebub—Satan! They did not say 'Jesus;' they used the word 'Beelzebub.' 'Beelzebub was captured! Beelzebub was paraded through the streets! Beelzebub was crucified!' they said. . . . But remember that these did not affect the Cause of Christianity; nay, rather, It advanced daily in power and potency, in splendor and effulgence. Therefore, my purpose is to warn you against accusations, certain criticisms, certain revilings in articles in the newspapers. Do not worry; they are the very cause of confirming the Cause, of uplifiting the Movement. . . . A great confusion will take place in the churches. . . Some ministers will arise saying the Bahais are misguided. That is the day the Cause is going to spread.
"My purpose is this: That his honor Mirza Abul Fazl has written a treatise answering the criticisms of a London preacher. It is published in Chicago; each one of you should have a copy of that book, and read, memorize and ponder over it. Then when anybody advances any accusations or criticisms, you will be well armed."
Order of MISS MARY LESCH, 5205 Jefferson Avenue,Chicago[Page 3]
"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 (December 12, 1912) Mass'ulk
No. 15
ON August 16th, Abdul-Baha and party arrived at Green Acre, Maine, after a pleasant automobile trip from Nashua, N. H., a ride of nearly a hundred miles. The automobile belonged to Mrs. Tatum, a New York Bahai who sent it from Boston. All along the way Abdul-Baha discoursed on the beauty of nature, the verdancy of the fields, the grandeur of the mountains, and the glory of the country. Many believers and visitors gathered at the gate to welcome him. He and his party, Dr. Ameen U. Fareed, Mirza Ali Akbar and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, were taken to their rooms overlooking the shimmering Piscataqua river, where in the distance could be seen the mountains of New Hampshire.
Half an hour after his arrival, before a large gathering, Abdul-Baha spoke briefly on the "Investigation of Reality," and in the evening another large audience listened to his discourse on "Love," * wherein the life hereafter
*See next issue of the STAR OF THE WEST.
was demonstrated and the four criterions of reason, senses, traditions and inspiration were explained.
These two meetings were arranged in his honor and the "Eirenion" was decorated with flowers and bunting. From the gate of Green Acre to the hotel on both sides of the roads two long lines of Japanese lanterns were hung. Each person in Green Acre, whether Bahai or not, had hung one of these lanterns. There were over a thousand. When the grounds were illuminated, Abdul-Baha said: "Very beautiful; very beautiful."
Everybody was delighted with the coming
of Abdul-Baha and the atmosphere of Green
Acre became Divine and spiritual with His
Presence. His majestic figure became a familiar
object, greeting everyone, whether
friend or stranger, young or old, in English,
"Good morning? How are you? Are you
well? Are you happy? Very happy?" When
the answer was given he said, in good English,
as the first time, "Very well? Very[Page 4]
happy? All right!" And then the party addressed
laughed because he laughed.
How the people loved him!
* * * * * * *
The day of his farewell address in Dublin, N. H., the people were so moved that many eyes were wet with tears. They could not bear to see him go away. When some of the friends expressed their sorrow he said:
"The mature wisdom requires this. I must go everywhere and raise the call of the Kingdom. As the days of my life are limited in this world, I must perfect my services; I must go everywhere and raise the summons of the Kingdom!" He uttered these words with a countenance shining with the splendor of God and with such spiritual condition that all wept like children. He is indeed the Master!
GREEN ACRE, MAINE, AUGUST 18, 1912.
Interpreted by Dr. Ameen U. Fareed; stenographic notes by Miss Edna McKinney.THE worlds of God are in perfect harmony and correspondence one with another. Each world in this limitless universe is as it were a mirror reflecting the history and nature of all the rest. The physical universe is likewise in perfect correspondence with the spiritual or Divine realm. The world of matter is an outer expression or fac-simile of the inner kingdom of spirit. The world of minds corresponds with the world of hearts.
If we look reflectively upon the material world we realize that all outer phenomena are dependent upon the sun. Without the sun the phenomenal world would be in a state of utter darkness and devoid of life. All earthly creation whether mineral, vegetable, animal or human is dependent upon the heat, light and splendor of the great central solar body for training and development. Were it not for the solar heat and sunlight no minerals would have been formed, no vegetable, animal and human organisms would or could have become existent. It is clearly evident therefore that the sun is the source of life to all earthly and outer phenomena.
In the inner world,—the world of the Kingdom,—the Sun of Reality is the trainer and educator of minds, souls and spirits. Were it not for the effulgent rays of the Sun of Reality, minds, souls and spirits would be deprived of growth and development, nay rather they would be non-existent. For just as the physical sun is the trainer of all outer and phenomenal forms of being through the radiation of its light and heat, so the radiation of the light and heat of the Sun of Reality gives growth, education and evolution to minds, souls and spirits toward the station of perfection.
His Holiness Christ was the Sun of Reality which shone from the heavenly horizon of Christianity, training, protecting, confirming minds, souls and spirits until they came into harmony with the Divine Kingdom and attained capacity for descent of the infinite Bounties of God. Were it not for the appearance of His Splendor they would have remained in the darkness of imperfection and remoteness from God. But because that Sun of Reality shone forth and flooded Its light into the world of minds, souls and spirits, they became radiant. He conferred a new and eternal life upon them.
When the prenomenal sun appears from the
vernal point of dawning in the zodiac, a wondrous
and vibrant commotion is set up in the
body of the earthly world. The withered trees
are quickened with animation, the black soil
becomes verdant with new growth, fresh and
fragrant flowers bloom, the world of dust is
refreshed, renewed life forces surge through
the veins of every animate being and a new
springtime carpets the meadows, plains, mountains
and valleys with wondrous forms of life.
That which was dead and desolate is revived
and resuscitated;—that which was withered,
faded and stricken is transformed by the spirit
of a new creation. In the same way the Sun
of Reality, when It illumines the horizon of
the inner world, animates, vivifies and quickens
with a divine and wonderful power. The
trees of human minds clothe themselves in
new and verdant robes, putting on leaves and
blossoms and bearing spiritual fruits of the
heavenly glad-tidings. Then fragrant flowers
of inner significances appear from the soil of
human souls and the whole being of man
awakens to a new and Divine activity. This is
the growth and development of the inner
world through the effulgent Light of Divine
Guidance and the heat of the Fire of the
Love of God.[Page 5]
The physical sun has its rising and its setting. The earthly world has its day and its night. After each sunset there is a sunrise and the coming of a new dawn. The Sun of Reality likewise has Its rising and setting. There is a Day and a night in the world of spirituality. After each Departure there is a Return and the Dawning-Light of a New Day.
Furthermore, the Reality of Divinity is characterized by certain Names and Attributes. Among these Names is "Creator," "Resuscitator," "Provider," the "All-Present," "Almighty," "Omniscient," and "Giver." These Names and Attributes of Divinity are eternal and not accidental. This is a very subtle point which demands close attention. Their existence is proved and necessitated by the appearance of phenomena. For example, "Creator" presupposes creation, "Resuscitator" implies resuscitation, "Provider" necessitates provision, otherwise these would be empty and impossible names. "Merciful" evidences an object upon which mercy is bestowed. If Mercy was not manifest, this Attribute of God would not be realized. The name "Lord" proves the existence of subjects over whom sovereignty is exercised. The Name "Omniscient" demands the objects of All-Knowing. Unless these objects existed, Omniscence would be meaningless and without function. The Name "The Wise" necessitates objects for the exercise of wisdom, and unless wisdom comprehended them this Name would be inconceivable. Therefore the Divine Names and Attributes presuppose the existence of phenomena implied by those Names and Attributes. And vice versa the Sovereignty of God is proved and established through their verity and being.
Reflect then carefully that the Sovereignty of God is not accidental but everlasting and eternal, and that it necessitates the existence of phenomenal being. Kingship necessitates a kingdom, an army, a treasury, subjects, a court and ministers. How could there be a king without subjects, dominion and wealth? Otherwise anybody could claim to be a king. "Where is your army?" "I do not need one." "Where is your country?" "It is unnecessary. I am a king without a kingdom, without army, subjects or sovereignty." Is this possible?
Therefore Divine Sovereignty necessitates a Creation over which Its dominion is exercised. There must be evidences of sovereignty. If we try to conceive of a time when creation was non-existent, when there were no subjects or creatures under Divine dominion and control, Divinity Itself would disappear; there would be a cessation of the Bounty of God, just as the kingship and favor of an earthly monarch would disappear if his kingdom did not exist. The Sovereignty of God is eternal. There has been no beginning; there will be no end. This is as evident as the sun at midday even to one endowed with limited reason.
When we consider the phenomenal sun we
see that its heat and light are continuous. There is no cessation to the solar bounty. If the sun at any time was without light or heat it would not be the sun. How do we recognize the sun? Through its heat and effulgence. If it be deprived of its rays and heat it is no longer a sun,—it is merely a dark globe or sphere in the heavens. The bounties of the sun must be perpetual in order that it may be qualified as a solar center of energy, illumination and attraction.
Likewise the Divine Bounties of the Sun of Reality are perpetual. Its Light is forever shining. Its Love is forever radiating. Its Bounty never ceases. It could not be said that the power and effulgence of God was ever subject to cessation. It could not be claimed that the Divinity of the Almighty One had come to an end. For the Divinity of God is eternal. Therefore the Divine Bounties, whether phenomenal and accidental or spiritual and ideal, are perpetual. But the people of religion are of two kinds. Some worship the Sun and some adore the Dawning-Points from which the sun rises. For instance the Jews adore the Mosaic Point of Dawning, the Zoroastrians that of Zoroaster. The people of Abraham turned to the Point of Rising in Abraham. When the Sun of Reality transferred its Illumination from the Abrahamic to the Mosaic Point of Dawning, the people of Abraham denied Its Appearance because they were turning toward the Point and not to the Sun of Reality Itself. When that Sun of Reality with Its Divine Bestowal, Its heavenly glow and effulgence tranferred to the Messianic Point of Rising, the Jews denied Its appearance in Jesus, for they were not worshippers of the Sun Itself but adored Its Rising in Moses. Had they been worshippers of the Sun of Reality they would have turned to His Holiness Christ instead of denying Him as Messiah.
What was the reason of this deprivation? It was simply because they were imitating fathers and ancestors in forms of belief instead of turning towards the Sun of Divinity. For this reason they were deprived of the Bounty which dawned in the Messianic Day-Spring. Holding tenaciously to the former Dawning-Point they still remain in this position of deprivation. Consider the people and nations of the earth today and observe this same tenacious allegiance to ancestral belief. He whose father was a Zoroastrian is a Zoroastrian. He whose father was a Buddhist remains a Buddhist. The son of a Mohammedan continues a Mohammedan, and so on throughout. Why is this? Because they are slaves and captives of mere imitation. They have not investigated the Reality of Religion and arrived at its fundamentals and conclusions. The Jew for instance has not proved the validity of Moses by investigating the Reality. He is a Jew because his father was a Jew. He imitates the forms and belief of his fathers and ancestors. There is no thought or mention of the Reality. And so it is with the other peoples of religion. This is the purpose of our statement that they worship the Dawning-Point rather than the Sun of Reality Itself.
If in the Day of His Holiness Jesus Christ the Jews had forsaken imitation and investigated Reality they would assuredly have belived in and accepted Him, for the Messianic Effulgence was far greater than the Mosaic. The Sun of Reality when It appeared from the Dawning-Point of Christ was as the mid-summer sun in brilliancy and beauty.
Now therefore we must be admonished and realize that mere imitation of fathers and ancestors is fruitless. Nay rather we must exert ourselves to the utmost in investigating and turning toward the Sun of Reality, no matter from what Day-Spring or Dawning-Point It may appear. The phenomenal sun is one sun. If tomorrow it should rise in the West, it is the same sun. We cannot say, "This is not the sun because it has appeared in the West." For East and West are but earthly and imaginary directions. In the station of the sun there is neither East nor West. It is ever shining from its place in the heavens. In the focal point of the solar circle there is no rising, no setting. Therefore sunrise and sunset have relation to earthly observation and not to the luminary itself. Nay rather night in the solar orb is inconceivable. In that center of effulgence, constant light and illumination prevail. Its risings and settings are therefore only apparent and not actual. They have relation to our earthly point of view. We could not consider it the sun if there was a cessation of its light, heat and splendor. To do so would be equivalent to calling a black stone a diamond. This would be meaningless. If a man is a miser and you call him generous it will produce no change in him.
The purport of this is that God is Almighty,
but His greatness cannot be brought within
the grasp of human limitation. We cannot
limit God to a boundary. Man is limited but
the world of Divinity is unlimited. Prescribing
limitation to God is human ignorance. God[Page 7]
is the Ancient, the Almighty; His Attributes
are infinite. He is God because His Light,
His Sovereignty, is infinite. If He can be
limited to human ideas He is not God.
Strange it is that notwithstanding these are
self-evident truths man continues to build
walls and fences of limitation about God,
about Divinity so glorious, illimitable, boundless.
Consider the endless phenomena of His
Creation. They are infinite; the universe is
infinite. Who shall declare its height, its
depth and length? It is absolutely infinite.
How could an Almighty Sovereignty, a Divinity
so wondrous, be brought within the limitations
of faulty human minds even as to terms
and definition? Shall we then say that God
has performed a certain thing and He will
never be able to perform it again? That the
Sun of His Effulgence once shone upon the
world but now has set forever? That His
Mercy, His Grace, His Bounty once descended
but now have ceased? Is this possible? No!
We can never say or believe with truth that
His Manifestation, the adored Verity, the Sun
of Reality shall cease to shine upon the world.
O God! Thou who are kind. Verily certain souls have gathered in this meeting turning to Thee with their hearts and spirits. They are seeking the Bounty Everlasting. They are in need of Thy Mercy Infinite.
O Lord! Remove the veils from their eyes and dispel the darkness of ignorance. Confer upon them the Light of Knowledge and Wisdom. Illumine these contrite hearts with the radiance of the Sun of Reality. Make these eyes perceptive through witnessing the Lights of Thy Sovereignty. Suffer these spirits to rejoice through the great Glad Tidings and receive these souls into Thy Supreme Kingdom.
O Lord! Verily we are weak; make us mighty. We are poor; assist us from the Treasury of Thy Munificence. We are dead; resuscitate us through the breath of the Holy Spirit. We lack patience in tests and in long-suffering; permit us to attain the Lights of Oneness.
O Lord! make this assemblage the cause of upraising the standard of the oneness of the world of humanity and confirm these souls so that they may become the promoters of international peace.
O Lord! Verily the people are veiled and in a state of contention with each other, shedding the blood and destroying the possessions of each other. Throughout the world there is war and conflict. In every direction there is strife, bloodshed and ferocity.
O Lord! Guide human souls in order that they may turn away from warfare and battle; that they may become loving and kind to each other; that they may enter into affiliation and serve the oneness and solidarity of humanity.
O Lord! The horizons of the world are darkened by this dissension. O God! Illumine them and through the Lights of Thy Love let the hearts become radiant. Through the blessing of Thy Bestowal resuscitate the Spirits until every soul shall perceive and act in accordance with Thy Teachings. Thou art the Almighty! Thou are the Omniscient! Thou are the Seer! O Lord be compassionate to all!
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY ABDUL-BAHA, AT THE HOME OF MRS. CORINNE TRUE, 5338 KENMORE AVENUE, CHICAGO, MONDAY EVENING, SEPT. 16, 1912.*
ALLAH-O-ABHA! This is my last evening in Chicago, for I am leaving tomorrow morning [for St. Paul, Minn.]. Some days I passed among you here and—Praise be to God!—I met you all, associating with you with the utmost of love, and I am very pleased with each and all of you. Praise be to God! your hearts are pure, your faces are radiant and your spirits exhilarated through the glad-tidings of God, and I pray
*Interpreted by Dr. Ameen U. Fareed; stenographic notes taken by Miss Gertrude Buikema.
in your behalf, seeking heavenly confirmation for you that each one of you may be a radiant candle, shedding light in the world of humanity. May you become the quintessence of Love, may you prove an effulgence of God, may you be the efficacy of the Holy Spirit, may you be the cause of amity and unity in the world of man, for the world of humanity has today the greatest need of love and unity. If it remain as it is today, great dangers shall face it; but if conciliation and unity shall obtain, if security and confidence shall be inspired, and with heart and soul we strive in order that the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH shall find an effective penetration in the realities—thus becoming the cause of fellowship and
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
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 (December 12, 1912) Massa'ulk No. 15
WAR—THE APPALLING DISEASE OF MANKIND TODAY, AND ITS REMEDY:
Quotations from the Addresses of Abdul-Baha—
"You see what is happening in the Balkans! How human blood is being shed! How little children are torn to pieces! How men's properties are pilaged! How cities and towns are sacked! It is a world enkindling fire that is astir in the Balkans!"
"Until the Holy Spirit becomes effective, interpenetrating the hearts and spirits, and until perfect reasonable faith shall obtain in the minds of men, it is impossible for the social body to be inspired with security and confidence. Nay, on the contrary, day by day enmity and strife shall increase among men and the differences and divergences of the nations shall augment; day by day additions to armies and navies of the world shall be made, and great is the fear of the great pandemic war—the war unparalleled in history."
"For six thousand years ye have been contending and warring. Enough of that! Now is the time for unity. You should lay aside self-purposes and know ye for a certainty that all mankind are the servants of one God and all are to be bound together."
Comment is unnecessary.
The Editors.
accord, binding together the hearts of the various religions and uniting the divergent peoples—the world of humanity shall attain to peace and composure and the will and good pleasure of God shall be executed and the world of men shall become a veritable world of angels. Souls shall be educated, vice shall be dispelled and the virtues of the world of humanity shall take their place; irreligion shall pass away and religion shall be strengthened, proving the bond to bind together the hearts of men.
In the world of existence there are various
bonds which unite the hearts, but none of
these bonds are efficient. For instance, the
first and foremost bond is the family bond,
but this bond is not effective, for how often
it happens that in some families divergence
and difference obtains. A patriotic bond may
be the means of amity and fellowship; but the
oneness of nativity will not suffice, for if we
regard history, we shall find that the inhabitants
of the same nativity have often waged
war against each other. In civil strife how
often they have shed the blood of each other;
how often they have pillaged the property of
each other! Hence, it becomes evident that
the oneness of nativity is not sufficient. Another
means of amity is the racial oneness.
How often we have seen that men of the same
race have engaged in the severest strife against
each other. They have spilled the blood of
each other; they have laid waste their country—which
proves that the oneness of nativity[Page 9]
is not oneness in reality. Among the bonds
of unity is the political bond. How often we
find that certain governments have been politically
bond together, amongst whom there
obtained political intercourse and oneness,
which afterwards was subjected to change and
who arose against each other on the battlefield.
Thus the oneness of politics is not
sufficient.
That which in the world of existence is the cause of perfect unity and amity is the oneness of reality. If reality enters the arena, the fundamental reality can conserve the states, and that reality—oneness of humanity—is a oneness which can only come into being through the efficacy of the Holy Spirit, for the efficacy of the Holy Spirit is like unto the spirit in the body; it dispels all differences and it ushers all beneath the same solidarity and unity. Regard how numerous are the parts and members of the human organism, but the oneness of the spirit animating it keeps its various parts and particles together in perfect co-ordination and solidarity. It brings such a unity into the organism that each member, were it to be subjected to any injury or were it to become diseased, all the other members would sympathetically suffer, due to the perfect unity existing. Hence, it becomes evident that the oneness of reality—perfect amity amongst mankind—cannot be accomplished save through the power of the Holy Spirit, for the world of humanity is likened to the body and the Holy Spirit is likened to the animus of that body; just as the human spirit is the cause of the cohesion of the various parts of the human organism, likewise the Holy Spirit is the cause of the unity and amity of all mankind.
Hence, we must strive in order that the power of the Holy Spirit may become effective throughout all humanity, in order that it may confer a new life upon the body politic, that all of the body politic may be ushered beneath the shelter of the same Word. Then the world of humanity shall become the world angelic, the ethereal darkness shall pass away and celestial illumination shall take its place; the defects of the human world shall be erased and the virtues Divine shall become resplendent, and this is unobtainable save through the power of the Holy Spirit. Hence, today the greatest need of the world of humanity is for the efficacy of the Holy Spirit. Until the Holy Spirit becomes effective, interpenetrating the hearts and spirits, and until perfect, reasonable faith shall obtain in the minds of men, it is impossible for the social body to be inspired with security and confidence. Nay, on the contrary, day by day enmity and strife shall increase among men and the differences and divergences of the nations shall augment; day by day additions to armies and navies of the world shall be made, and great is the fear of the great pandemic war, the war unparalleled in history, for armaments which heretofore have been so limited are now becoming amplified on a grand scale. It is becoming severe, drawing nigh unto the degree of men warring upon the seas, warring upon the plains, nay, rather, warring in the very atmosphere, and such never obtained in by-gone days. With such growth of armaments, the dangers are equally great.
Therefore, we must endeavor that the Holy
Spirit shall affect peacefully the minds and
hearts; the bounties of God shall surround;
all the Divine effulgences shall become successive,
in order that human souls advance,
minds expand in liberalism, souls become
holier and the world of humanity become rid
of this great danger. For this, His Holiness
BAHA'O'LLAH endured all the hardships, ordeals
and vicissitudes of life, sacrificing His
very being, sacrificing His comfort, forfeiting
His possessions, forfeiting His estates, forfeiting
His honor—all that pertains to human
existence—not for one year, nay, rather for
fifty years. For fifty years He bore hardships,
endured ordeals; was cast into prison; was
banished from His home; was subjected to
severities, and exiled four times. He was first
exiled from Persia to Bagdad; then from
Bagdad to Constantinople; thereafter from
Constantinople to Roumelia, and from Roumelia
was He exiled to the Great Prison,
Acca [Syria], the great fortress of Acca,
where He passed the remainder of His life.
Every day a new exposure and every day a
new ordeal, until in the dungeon He winged
to the very Heaven, that is to say, He returned
to His Lord. The purpose of enduring
all these ordeals and difficulties was no
other than the illumination of the human
world, that this earthly world become heavenly;
that the realm of the Kingdom become a
reality; that the individual members of humanity
advance, minds progress, the efficacy of the
Holy Spirit become greater in penetration and
thereby the happiness of the human world
assured. He desired for all composure and
ease and He exercised love and kindness
towards all nations regardless of difference.
He addressed humanity, saying; "O! humankind[Page 10]
verily, ye are all the leaves of one tree;
ye are all the fruits of one tree; ye are all one.
Hence, associate with one another with amity;
love one another; abandon the prejudices of
race; forget forever this gloomy darkness of
ignorance, for the century of Light, the Sun
of Reality hath appeared. Now is the time for
affiliation and now is the period for unification.
For six thousand years ye have been contending
and warring. Enough of that! Now is the
time for unity. You should lay aside self-purposes
and know ye for a certainty that all
mankind are the servants of one God and all
are to be bound together."
And inasmuch as in the past there was caused great differences, divergences, denominations were created, every man with a new idea, attributing that to God, He, therefore, did not desire that among the Bahais there should occur any difference. Therefore, with His pen He wrote a Book of His Covenant, addressing all the Bahais, and all His relations, saying: "Verily, I have appointed a personage 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 correct, for, verily, he knoweth the texts of My Book. Other than him no one knows the Book." And this He said because among the Bahais there is not to take place any difference; that all were to be unified and agreed. Also, He said in His prayers: "O God, whosoever violates My Covenant, O God, humiliate him. Verily, whosoever violates My Covenant, him, O God, erase and efface." In all His Tablets, among which is the Tablet of The Branch, He has elucidated the various points or qualities of that personage; He has expounded the potency and power of that personage, so that no person with a new desire shall say, "I understand this from the writings of BAHA'O'LLAH for He appointed the Center or Expounder of the Book. He said: "Verily, he is the appointed one; other than him there is none"—so that no sects or prejudices were to be formed; so that not every man with a new thought should create a thing. It is as though a king should appoint a governor general. Whosoever obeys that governor general has obeyed the king. Whosoever has violated the governor general has violated the king. Therefore, whosoever obeys the CENTER OF THE COVENANT, appointed by BAHA'O'LLAH has obeyed BAHA'O'LLAH, and whosoever disobeys him has disobeyed BAHA'O'LLAH. It has nothing to do with him [Abdul-Baha] at all—precisely as the governor general of a king; whosoever obeys the governor general obeys the king; whosoever disobeys the governor general disobeys the king.
Therefore, you must read the Tablets of BAHA'O'LLAH. You must read the Tablet of The Branch. You must regard that which He has clearly stated. Beware! Beware! if anyone should say anything out of his own thoughts or should create a new thing out of himself. Beware! Beware! you should care nothing at all for such a person, according to the explicit Covenant of BAHA'O'LLAH. His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH shuns such souls, and for the conservation of the Teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH, I have expounded for you, so that you may be informed lest any souls shall deceive you, lest any souls shall cause suspicion among you. You must love all people, though if any soul put you in doubt, you must know that BAHA'O'LLAH is quit with them. Anyone who works for unity, who works for amity, is a servant of BAHA'O'LLAH and BAHA'O'LLAH is his Helper and his Assistant. I ask God that He may cause you to be the very means of accord and unity, that He may make you radiant, merciful, heavenly, of the Kingdom Divine; that day by day you may advance; that you may become as bright as these lamps, thus shining throughout humanity—and here I bid you farewell.
OUR PERSIAN SECTION:
A word of explanation is given regarding the re-appearance of our Persian section after many months: As the editor, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, accompanied Abdul-Baha on most of his journeyings throughout America, it was almost impossible for him to look after the matter, and now that he has returned to the East, it has become necessary to place that department in other hands.
Dr. Zia Bagdadi, who has been associated with him in this work, has consented to render this service. He is located at Chicago.
The services of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab are thoroughly appreciated and will never be forgotten. The good wishes of the Bahais are with him in his travels with Abdul-Baha.
Our Persian section contains: (1) Glad-tidings for the Orient; (2) farewell address of Abdul-Baha at the summer home of Mrs. Agnes Parsons, Dublin, N. H.; (3) announcement of "The Brilliant Proof"; (4) an apology.
نجم باختر . جلد 3 . شماره 15 محرّم الحرام سنه 1331
فهرست مندرجات
1 . مژده از برای شرق .
2 . نطق ودعی عبدالبهاء در دبلین .
3 . اعلان کتاب برهان لامع .
4 . عذر
Address: Najme Bakhtar, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
PAGE 1 VOL. III No 15
آدرس : نجم باختر . صندوق پستی 283 . شیکاگو . ایلینوی . ایالات متحدّۀ امریکا نجم باختر 1329 . شماره 10 . محرّم الحرام سنه 1331 . شیکاغو . 12 دسمبر 1912 . سالی دوازده قران
این جریده برحسب تاریخ بهائی هر نوزده روز چاپ و توزیع میگردد و در نهایت آزادی در مسائل یگانگی بشر و وحدت ادیان و انتشار علوم و فنون این قرن و تربیت اطفال و پیشرفت امر حضرت بهاء الله در اطراف جهان و توضیح حقائق این دین عمومی خواهد نوشت و مقالات مفیده که موافق سبک اداره است قبول و نشر خواهد گردید
صفحه 1 - 1
مژده از برای شرق
بعد از سفر نه ماهه در امریکا حضرت مولی الوری عبدالبهاء در کمال روح و ریحان یوم پنجشنبه بیست و ششم ذی الحجّه مطابق پنجم دسمبر ماه فرنگی سنه 1331 هجری و سنه 1912 مسیحی تقریبا وقت ظهر تشریف فرمای واپور ابیض شده از شهر نیویورک عازم لندن شدند جمهور عظیمی از احباب برای مشایعت در کشتی جمع آمدند و با چشمهای گریان و دلهای بریان وداع و خداحافظ مینمودند و احساسات قلبی شان را بواسطۀ الله ابهی و یا بهاء الابهی تقدیم میداشتند . هیکل مبارک از شرق اقصی تا غرب امریکا سیاحت فرمودند و در هر شهری که تشریف میبردند در جمیع محافل و مجالس عظیمه و معابد و کنائس مهمّه و انجمن ها و مدارس عالیّه دعوت و التماس مینمودند که مجامعشان به قدوم مبارک مزیّن و گوشهایشان باستماع
صفحه 2 - 1
این نباء عظیم متلتذ شود و حضرت مولی الوری هم تشریف میبردند و مطابق حال آنان فرمایشات میفرمودند . در کنائس مسیحیان اثبات حقیقت حضرت رسول مینمودند و در معابد کلیمیان از دلائل و براهین در اثبات حقیقت حضرت مسیح و حضرت محمّد سخن میفرمودند ، مختصر خیمۀ وحدت عالم انسانی را در هر انجمن زدند و علم صلح و سلام در هر مرکزی بلند فرمودند گوشی نماند که نداء ملکوت را نشنید جمیع علماء و فلاسفه و حکماء و رؤساء و غیره که در حضور مبارک مشرّف شدند شهادت دادند که تعالیم حضرت بهاء الله روحانیست سبب سعادت ابدیّه و راحت و آسایش عموم خلق است جای انکار برای نفسی باقی نمانده .
از یوم ورود حضرت مولی العالم عبدالبهاء باین صفحات در میان احباب همچنان انجذاب و اشتعالی
صفحه 1 - 2
پیدا شده که در هر شهری از شهرهای ایالات متّحده جمیع با قوّۀ عظیمه و حیات تازه متحدا مانند یک روح در اجسام متعدّده بخدمت امرالله قیام نموده اند مجالس روحانیّه منعقد و ندای یا بهاء الابهی شبانه روز بلند است . البّته معلوم و واضح است که چون باغبان حقیقی تخم را بدست خود بکارد حاصل آن در نهایة درجۀ کمال است و ما بچشم خود مشاهده نمودیم که حضرت مولی الوری تخم الفت و یگانگی را در اراضی افئدۀ صافیّه کاشتند و ثمرش هم فورا ظاهر شد . با وجود این همه نتائج عظیمه حضرت مولی الوری فرمودند که این از اثر یک شعاع از شمس حقیقت است که بافق امریکا درخشید دیگر معلوم است در مستقبل چه هنگامه خواهد گشت حضرت مولی الوری که مرکز میثاق و مبیّن کتاب است تعالیم حضرت بهاء الله را از برای جمیع خلق بکمال وضوح بیان فرمودند و مانند آفتاب بر کلّ ساطع و لامع که تعالیم مبارکۀ ایشان مطابق عقل و علم و برهان است و ابدا منکر ندارد .
هیکل مبارک از اهالی امریکا خوشنود و راضیند چنانچه مکرّرا از لسان مبارک شنیده شد که فرمودند
صفحه 2 - 2
ملتّ نجیبۀ امریکا طالب حقیقت هستند در جستجوی هر چیز بر می آیند تا از اصل و فصل آن خبردار شوند .
در روز حرکت احباب آنچه از هدایا و خوراکی و مرکبّات و شیرینیجات و گل که بحضور مبارک آوردند حضرت مولی الوری بهمه بخشیدند بلکه از جیب مبارک مبالغ کلیّه به فقراء انفاق فرمودند
نطق وداعی عبدالبهاء
در مصیف جانفزای دبلین در منزل امّة الله مسس اگنس پارسنز بعد از ظهر 15 اغسطس سنه 1912 در جلوی جمعی از نفوس محترم : سه هفته است که من در دبلین هستم دبلین جای بسیار خوش است جای بسیار باصفاست جای بسیار خوش هوائی است علی الخصوص نفوسی که در دبلین هستند نفوس محترم هستند اخلاقشان بسیار خوش است میهمان نوازند غریب پرستند نهایت رعایت را از آنها دیدم و این محبّت و دعایشان را را ابدا فراوش ننمایم همیشه در خاطرم هست لهذا دعا میکنم که خدا تأیید کلیّ بفرماید و این نفوس محترمه را مبارک کند الطافش
صفحه 1 - 3
را بکلّ شامل نماید تا روز بروز بهتر شوند . من چون به اقلیم امریکا آمدم آثار رحمت پروردگار را از هر جهت مشاهده کردم مملکتی دیدم در نهایت اتسّاع جمیع کمالات طبیعت را شامل است ملتّی است در نهایت نجابت روز بروز در ترقیّ هستند لهذا از این جهت بسیار ممنون و مسرور هستم ولکن چون من از شرق آمدم پیام الهی آوردم زیرا در این ممالک روحانیّات ترقیّ نکرده است در امور طبیعی ترقیّ کرده ولی در امور ماوراء الطبیعه ترقیّ نکرده است لهذا من پیام الهی آوردم بشارت آسمانی آوردم جمیع را به سطوع انوار ملکوت بشارت دادم تعالیم بهاء الله را بیان کردم اسرار کتب مقدّسه را شرح دادم جمیع تعالیم انبیاء را بیان کردم اسرار کتب مقدّسه را بیان کردم دلائل و براهین عقلیّه بر وجود الوهیّت آوردم دلائل عقلیّه بر وجود وحی آوردم حجج عقلیّه اقامه کردم که رحمت پروردگار مستمرّ است ابواب ملکوت مفتوح است فیض الهی ابدی است انوار شمس حقیقت ساطع است و آنرا انقطاعی نیست و چون سلطنت الهیّه سلطنت
صفحه 2 - 3
دائمی است لهذا فیض الهی دائمی است هرکس فیوضات الهیّه را محدود به حدودی نماید خدا را محدود به حدّی کرده است مادام خداوند محدود به حدودی نیست فیوضات الهی را انتهائی نه خلاصه هر برهانی را بیان و هر دلیلی را واضح نمودم که در عالم انسانی یک قوّۀ روحانیّه است یک روح فعّاله است و انسان بآن ممتاز از مادون انسان ، انسان با جمیع کائنات در جمیع مراتب مشترک است امّا به موهبت روح ممتاز از جمیع کائنات است این روح نفحۀ از نفحات الهی است و شعاعی از شمس حقیقت و براهین قاطعه بر بقاء روح اقامه کردم و واضح و آشکار نمودم که روح انسانی بدون فیوضات الهی مرده است و قلب انسانی بدون هدایت الله ظلمت است لهذا قلوب باید توجّه بملکوت الهی نماید تا انوار فیوضات نامتناهی جلوه کند تا این ملتّ نجیبۀ امریکا که در مادیّات نهایت ترقیّ نموده اند بهمچنین ترقیّات روحانی نمایند و از عالم ماوراء الطبیّعه خبر گیرند و سلطنت الهی را به بصیرت خود مشاهده کنند تا به روح القدس
صفحه 1 - 4
تعمید یابند و بماء الحیات تعمید یابند و به نار محبّت الله تعمید جویند چنانچه حضرت مسیح میفرماید تا حیات ابدیّه یابند تا انوار ملکوت الهی مشاهده کنند تا در ملکوت الهی داخل شوند .
باری حالا روز آخر است من فردا عازم رفتن هستم و شماها را نصیحت میکنم : همتّتان را بلند کنید و مقصدتان را عالی فرمائید این عالم جسمانی حیات موقتّ است لابد منتهی میشود حیات و لذائذ این عالم ترابی فانی است راحتش منتهی بزحمت است عزّتش منتهی به ذلتّ حیاتش منتهی به ممات بقایش منتهی به فنا میشود و هرچیزی که بقا ندارد عاقل جلوه ندارد زیرا انسان عاقل توجّه به عالم فانی نمی کند توجّه به عالم باقی می کند حیات ابدی میطلبد و در ظلمات طبیعت نمیماند آرزوی مملکت انوار میکند لهذا قناعت باین حیات فانیّه نکند یک حیاتی طلبد که نهایت ندارد یک عزّتی طلبد که ابدی و سرمدی است یک راحتی طلبد که آسمانی است یک روحانیّتی طلبد که ربّانی است کمالات معنویّه طلبد و فضائل ملکوتیّه جوید
صفحه 2 - 4
قربیّت خدا را آرزو نماید توجّه به ملکوت الله کند پس آنچه نهایت کمالات عالم انسانی است بآن فائز گردید و منتهی فیوضات عالم آسمانی را بطلبید . ملاحظه کنید عقلائی که از پیش گذشته اند دانایانی که از پیش گذشته اند انبیائی که از پیش گذشته اند فلاسفۀ الهی که از پیش گذشته اند آنها خود را از ظلمات عالم طبیعت نجات دادند و از انوار عالم ملکوت بهره و نصیب گرفتند اعتنائی به حیات موقّته این دنیا نمی نمودند حیات ابدیّه می طلبیدند هرچند در زمین بودند لکن در ملکوت ابهی سیر می نمودند هرچند ارواحشان اسیر این جسد بود ولکن آزادی عالم بقا را می جستند تا آنکه ارواح مقدّسۀ آنها به ملکوت ابهی صعود نمودو حیات ابدی یافتند .
ملاحظه کنید که جمیع اعاظم دنیا کلّ معدوم شدند اثری از آنها باقی نیست ولکن آن نفوس مقدّسه الی الابد آثارشان باقی است شمع جمیع ملوک خواموش شد ولکن شمع آنان
صفحه 1 - 5
روز بروز روشن تر گشت چه قدر در این عالم ملکه ها آمدند که در نهایت اقتدار بودند جمیع اینها معدوم شدند اثری از آنها نمانده است مگر آنکه در بعضی کتب تاریخ اسمی از آنان مذکور ولکن مریم مجدلیّه یک زن دهاتی بود چون به انوار ملکوت روشن شد نجم ساطع گشت و الی الابد از افق عزّت ابدیّه میدرخشد . از اینجا اقتباس کنید که نفوسی که در ملکوت ابهی داخل میشوند عزّت ابدیّه می یابند صیت آنان الی الابد باقی است و از افق ملکوت . مانند ستاره میدرخشند حیات آنها ابدی است آثار آنان ابدی است .
پس بکوشید تا انوار ملکوت ابهی بیابید تا به فضل الهی زنده شوید تا به نفثات روح القدس حیات یابید این است وصیّت من ، من در حقّ شما دعا میکنم که خدا الطاف بی پایان خود را بر شما نازل کند . من محبّت شماها را ابدا فراموش نمی کنم و آنچه در حقّ من مجری داشتید
صفحه 2 - 5
در مراسلات ذکر نموده و خواهم نمود و الی الابد از شماها خوشنودم .
برهان لامع
در وقتی که حضرت مولی الوری عبدالبهاء در امریکا تشریف داشتند امر فرموده بودند که کتاب برهان لامع که جناب آقا میرزا ابوالفضل نوشته اند چاپ و انتشار شود و به جمیع احباب یک نسخه از آن ارسال گردد « برسم الهدیه » و این اداره امر مبارک را اجرا نموده است . و الآن پنج هزار نسخه دیگر چاپ کردیم که اگر کسی بخواهد فورا ارسال می نمائیم . قیمت هر شش نسخه را یک دلار است .
عذر
از جمیع قارئین و مشترکین محترم باز عذر میخواهم که بواسطۀ مسافرت مدیر و معاون مدیر ایرانی به نقاط مختلفۀ امریکا در حضور مقدّس عبدالبهاء در شماره های اخیر جزوۀ فارسی چاپ نشد و تعویق افتاد
