| Star of the West Volume 4 - Issue 1 |
Issue 2→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
We are working hard to have proofread and nicely formatted text for you to read. Here is our progress on this section:
|
Vol. IV
Chicago, March 21, 1913
No. 1
| Page | |
Frontispiece: Abdul-Baha Abbas | 2 |
Message to Bahais throughout the World from Abdul-Baha | 3 |
Abdul-Baha at Clifton, England | 4 |
Address by Abdul-Baha at Church of the Ascension, New York City, April 14, 1912 | 7 |
Brief History of the Bahai Movement | 8 |
The Bahai (Glorious) Message | 12 |
The New Name: Baha'o'llah | 13 |
Lawh-el-Akdas, The Holy Tablet | 14 |
"Teach the Cause! Convey the Message!" | 16 |
The Mashrak-el-Azkar in America: Announcements | 17 |
Tablet from Abdul-Baha to the Believers of God and the Maid-servants of the Merciful throughout the World | 20 |
Persian Section | 23-32 |
The Servant of BAHA'O'LLAH and the Center of His Covenant
Photograph taken at Washington,
D.C., during his sojourn in America.[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. IV
Chicago (March 21, 1913) Baha
No. 1
FROM ABDUL-BAHA
A NEW YEAR'S GREETINGGOD, the Maker of the worlds, hath created the realm of humanity to be the Paradise of Eden (or the Garden of Paradise) if the edifice of Peace, Reconciliation, Love, and Faithfulness is founded on a solid and firm basis; nay, rather, He hath willed it to become the mirror, reflecting the Delectable Paradise. Then, and not until then, will all the divine bounties become manifold; happiness and well-being infinite; the virtues of the world of humanity revealed and resplendent; and the rays of the Sun of Reality visible from every direction.
Consider that his holiness Adam and others were living in Paradise. But as soon as strife became known between him and Satan, every one was driven away from Eden, so that the children of humanity might learn a lesson and realize that quarrels and strife, even though with Satan, are conducive to deprivation.
Therefore, in this radiant century, according to the heavenly teachings, altercation and dispute are not allowable, even though assailed by Satan himself.
Astonishing is it, that notwithstanding the inculcation of this lesson, yet man has remained ignorant. From one end of the world to the other, the realm of humanity is engaged in hostilities and war. There is enmity between the religions. There is hatred between the classes. There is war between the fatherlands. There is contention between the diplomats. How delightful it would now be could these black clouds be dispersed from the horizon of the world, letting the light of Reality shine; the dust of slaughter and the crime of shedding blood be swept away; the breeze of providence from the Dawning-Place of Peace and Salvation be wafted; thus the world would become a new world, and the face of the earth receive new life from the rays of the divinely effulgent light of God.
Our hope is in the favors of the glorious Lord, trusting that His providence and protection will encircle us. May the bitterness of struggle, warfare, and the cruelty of the blood-shedding sword be changed into the sweetness of friendship, reconciliation, righteousness, and justice! May the tastes become sweetened, the nostrils perfumed, with the essence of the Rose.
May this New Year be made the occasion of the New Peace! May this conference be assisted and aided to inaugurate an era of peace with justice, and to establish the basis of a fair treaty and agreement, so that their work may be blessed for ever and ever.
ABDUL-BAHA was a guest at the Clifton Guest House over the night of January 16th, arriving by train at noon and leaving at noon the next day. The host, Mr. Tudor-Pole, took Abdul-Baha for a drive in the afternoon, after which he re-met many of the guests and neighbors who dropped in to renew their acquaintance of a year ago. In the evening about 150 gathered to hear the Master's message. Mr. Tudor-Pole was in the chair and introduced Abdul-Baha by giving a short account of the Movement and of its marvelous growth in the last few years. The Master entered, bestowing on them that smile which in itself is a benediction. It was a notable gathering of east and west, with the central saintly figure. Here and there was seen a scarlet fez which denoted the presence of eastern students. Abdul-Baha on entering gave that courtly eastern greeting of raising the palms of his hands to his forehead, after which he told them that since last seeing them he had been half over the world. "In fact," he said, "I have come to Clifton this time via Los Angeles and Chicago." Then he began at once to speak, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab interpreting. Abdul-Baha commenced while seated on a couch, but soon he was on his feet, occasionally walking to and fro, and sometimes emphasizing a fact with upraised hand or standing still with eyes closed and his silver voice sunk low.
Every age requires a central impetus or movement. In this age, the boundaries of terrestrial things have extended; minds have taken on a broader range of vision; realities have been unfolded and the secrets of being have been brought into the realm of visibility. What is the spirit of this age, what is its focal point? It is the establishment of Universal Peace, the establishment of the knowledge that humanity is one family. Think on the conditions of this world of humanity. Nations have become like unto armed camps waiting to be ignited by the combustion of war.
Whereas in reality God has created man for love's sake. God has endowed man with creation so that he may illumine the world with the flame of brotherhood and express the utmost state of unity and accord. This state would express God's good pleasure; this would be the prosperity of the world of humanity. A thousand times alas! that this glorious century has been besmeared with war and strife, hatred and rancor. Bloodthirsty wolves are tearing the sheep of God. Destruction is more widespread than in all the ages of the past.
We hear on every side praises of the wonders of this cycle, its achievements, its refinements, its genius; calling the past the age of mediaeval horror. What mediaeval age held the horror of a Krupp gun, a Mauser rifle or a shrapnel shell that kills a whole camp? On the sea we have the submarine and the dreadnaught. If you compare the past with this age, impartial judgment will call this the age of human fratricide.
All the religions are revealed for the sake
of good fellowship. The fundamentals, the
foundations of all are fellowship, unity and
love. The heavenly books were revealed and
divine love bestowed to bring about peace.
What has man made of religion? He has
made it the cause of bloodshed and strife; enmity
and hatred. Religion was destined to be
a remedy for the sickness of humanity; an
illumination for the darkness of uncertainty.
Have we then forgotten the divine teachings,
cast aside the heavenly books, created imaginary
thoughts and illusions and made them
the basis of rancor and strife? The Bible
commands the practice of peace and justice.
God desires love. In the gospel we find the
golden statement that man should be expressive
of love even unto his enemy; he should
be expressive of love to his ill-wishers; he
should be expressive of love to all his fellow
men. He must have an eye to pardon; he
must have an eye to benevolence. All the
divine books invite men to these teachings.
All the divine prophets suffered that man
might realize these teachings. Consider what
His Holiness Christ endured, how many vicissitudes
he underwent, every day tasting a new
poison, finally sacrificing his own life, so that
the tent of love and concord might be raised
over the world of humanity so that this dark
world might be invested with divine light.
Alas! that all the travail of these holy souls
and sanctified prophets should be wasted. The
world of humanity is in a stupor of sleep and
it cannot grasp the realities. The horizon
of the minds are still beclouded and the hearts
are occupied with phantasmal longings. We
seem never to think of the reason of creation;[Page 5]
never to strive to proclaim those principles
which enlighten humanity. In the sea of materialism
we are sinking and of the Kingdom
of God we know nothing. We are not living
in accord with those precious teachings of
God.
Nearly 60 years ago when the horizon of the Orient was in a state of the utmost gloom, warfare existed and there was enmity between the various creeds; darkness brooded over the children of men and foul clouds of ignorance hid the sky—at such a time His Highness BAHA'O'LLAH arose from the horizon of Persia like unto a shining sun. He boldly proclaimed peace, writing to the kings of the earth and calling upon them to arise and assist in the hoisting of this banner. In order to bring peace out of the chaos, he established certain precepts or principles:
The first principle BAHA'O'LLAH urged was the independent investigation of truth. "Each individual." he said, "is following the faith of his ancestors who themselves are lost in the maze of tradition. Reality is steeped in dogmas and doctrines. If each investigate for himself, he will find that Reality is one; does not admit of multiplicity; is not divisible. All will find the same foundation and all will be at peace.
The second principle of BAHA'O'LLAH proclaims the oneness of the human race. He states that humanity constitute the sheep of God. God is the real shepherd. When this shepherd is compassionate and kind, why should the sheep quarrel amongst themselves? Addressing all humanity, BAHA'O'LLAH says, "Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. All the nations, peoples and tongues are the branches, leaves, blossoms and fruits of this great tree of humanity." God created all; protects all; provides for all and is kind to all; why should you be unkind? If God had not loved humanity he would not have created it. Creation presupposes love. God is the real father; all are his children. All the creatures are equal in this one family of God save whosoever is more kind, more compassionate,—he is nearer to God.
The third principle of the religion of BAHA'O'LLAH is in regard to international peace. There must be peace between the fatherlands; peace between the religions. In this period of evolution the world of humanity is in danger. Every war is against the good pleasure of the Lord of mankind. Man is the edifice of God. War destroys the divine edifice. Peace is the stay of life; war the cause of death. If an active, actual peace is brought about, the human world will attain to the utmost serenity and composure. Wolves will be transformed into lambs; devils into angels and terrors into divine splendors in less than the twinkling of an eye.
The fourth principle declares that religion must be in conformity to science and reason. If a religion does not agree with the postulates of science nor accord with the regulations of reason it is a bundle of superstitions; a phantasm of the brain. Science and religion are realities, and if that religion to which we adhere be a reality it must needs conform to the fundamental reality of all things.
The fifth principle of BAHA'O'LLAH is this: that religious, racial, political and patriotic prejudice are the destroyers of human society. As long as these prejudices last the world of humanity will not attain to poise and perfection. As long as these threatening clouds are in the sky of humanity, the sun of reality cannot dawn.
The sixth principle of BAHA'O'LLAH regards
the equality of men and women. The
male and female of the human kingdom are
equal before God. God is no respecter of
gender. Whosoever practices more faith, whosover
practices more humanitarianism is nearer
to God; but between the male and female
there is no innate difference because they share
in common all the faculties. The world of
humanity has two wings, one the male; the
other the female. When both wings are reinforced
with the same impulse the bird will be
enabled to wing its flight heavenward to the
summit of progress. Woman must be given
the same opportunities as man for perfecting
herself in the attainments of learning, science
and arts. God has created the man and the
woman equal, why should she be deprived of
exercising the fullest opportunities afforded by
life? Why should we ever raise the question
of superiority and inferiority? In the animal
kingdom the male and female enjoy suffrage[Page 6]
[laughter], and in the vegetable kingdom the
plants all enjoy equal suffrage [laughter and
applause]. In the human kingdom, which
claims to be the realm of brotherhood and
solidarity, why should we raise this question?
The seventh teaching suggests a plan whereby all the individual members may enjoy the utmost comfort and welfare. The degrees of society must be preserved. The farmer will continue to till the soil, the artist pursue his art, the banker to finance the nation. An army has need of its general, captain, and private soldiers. The degrees varying with the pursuits are essential. But in this Bahai plan there is no class hatred. Each is to be protected and each individual member of the body politic is to live in the greatest comfort and happiness. Work is to be provided for all and there will be no needy ones to be seen in the streets.
The eighth principle declares that there must needs be established the parliament of man or court of last appeals for international questions. The members of this arbitral court of justice will be representatives of all the nations. In each nation the members must be ratified by the government and the king or ruler, and this international parliament will be under the protection of the world of humanity. In it all international difficulties will be settled.
The ninth admonition is in regard to education. All the children must be educated so that there will not remain one single individual without an education. In cases of inability on the part of the parents through sickness, death, etc., the state must educate the child. In addition to this widespread education, each child must be taught a profession or trade so that each individual member of the body politic will be enabled to earn his own living and at the same time serve the community. Work done in the spirit of service is worship. From this universal system of education misunderstandings will be expelled from amongst the children of men.
The tenth principle is the establishment of a universal language so that we will not have to acquire so many languages in the future. In the schools they will study two, the mother tongue and the international auxiliary language. The use of an international auxiliary language will become a great means of dispelling the differences between nations.
There are many other teachings*. I have given you but a few. Praise be to God! that day by day we are advancing and every day we see some new blessing descending. Let all of us render thanksgiving to our generous Lord that he may bless our eyes with sight and give unto our hearts understanding. May we become resuscitated with the breath of the Holy Spirit. May we be enabled to leave behind the world of matter in beholding the bounties of God. The divine table is spread, the heavenly illumination is all-encircling; eternal life is provided for all; divine food is prepared for all! Therefore let us practice the divine essence of love and love each other from our very hearts and souls so that the East and West shall embrace each other and realize that all are the sheep of God. God is the good shepherd—then will we gather under the tabernacle of His mercy!
Afterward in the library the guests were afforded the honor of meeting Abdul-Baha and one picturesque little group that lingered behind the rest pleased him mightily. There were five Egyptian students wearing the red fez, Abdul-Baha's suite standing in the background wearing the black fez—there was a German, a Californian and a Welshman, whose work lay in a Universal Brotherhood movement and on whose work Abdul-Baha pronounced a beautiful blessing.
Then changing his mood and laughing heartily he talked in Arabic to the students and, as befitting the occasion, he emphasized again the great necessity for a Universal language. He said that in the future many such groups would gather from the four corners of the earth for the purpose of mutual understanding.
*NOTE—On another occasion Abdul-Baha stated
that "the eleventh principle of BAHA'O'LLAH is
The Power of the Holy Spirit, by which alone
Spiritual Development is achieved. No matter
how the material world may progress, no matter
how splendidly it may adorn itself, it can never
be anything but a lifeless body unless the soul is
within; for it is the soul that animates the body;
deprived of the blessings of the Holy Spirit, the
material body would be inert."—The Editors.[Page 7]
AT CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION, FIFTH AVENUE AND TENTH STREET, NEW YORK CITY
REV. PERCY STICKNEY GRANT, RECTOR, APRIL 14, 1912.*INTRODUCTION BY REV. DR. GRANT.
IT is to be our privilege this morning to listen to one who has come out of the East; a new and great herald of good-will. He comes with a plan of construction and reconstruction, and bears a message of peace and love to all mankind. Abdul-Baha is a Master of the things of the Spirit. Modern life to him is only a fabric. He is a man with a spirit of understanding and wisdom. He comes from that part of the world where men meditate; where contemplation was born. He teaches the fundamental unity of all religions,—a truth in which this congregation believes profoundly,—and we welcome here one who may help the material fervor of the Occident to gain a new peace by the infiltration of the harmonies of the Orient. This great representative of the East comes to tell us that knowledge and more knowledge will bring about a realization of peace and unity.
Some will ask, "What has he done to prove his sincerity?" An exile from his native land from the age of nine, a prisoner for forty years;—these are the badges of Abdul-Baha's sincerity. We are going to listen in the fashion of the East and listen to a great student.
In his scriptural reading this morning the revered Doctor quoted a verse from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, "For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face."
In reality the Light of Truth has heretofore been seen through variegated glasses, but now we hope that the Splendors of Divinity shall be seen through the translucent mirrors of pure hearts and spirits. That Light of Truth is the Divine teaching, heavenly instructions, merciful principles and spiritual civilization. Since my arrival in this country I find that material civilization has progressed greatly. I find commercial progress in the utmost degree of expansion; arts, agriculture and all details of material civilization in the highest stage of perfection; but spiritual civilization has been left behind. Material civilization is like unto the glass, while spiritual civilization is the light in that glass. If the material and
*Compiled from the Persian Notes by Mirza Ahmad Sohab and Mr. Howard MacNutt.
spiritual civilization become united, then we will have the light and the glass together and the outcome will be perfect. For material civilization is like unto a beautiful body and spiritual civilization is like unto the spirit of life. If that great spirit of life enters this beautiful body, the body will become a channel for the distribution and development of the perfections of humanity.
His Holiness Jesus Christ came to teach the people of the world this heavenly civilization and not material civilization. He breathed the breath of the Divine Spirit into the body of the world and established an illumined civilization. Among the principles of Divine civilization He came to proclaim is the "Most Great Peace" of mankind. Among His principles of spiritual civilization is the oneness of the kingdom of humanity. Among the principles of heavenly civilization He brought is the virtue of the human world. Among the principles of celestial civilization He announced is the improvement and betterment of human morals.
Today the world of humanity is in need of international unity and conciliation. This great foundation needs a propelling power to spread these principles. It is self-evident that unity of the human world and the "Most Great Peace" cannot be accomplished through material means. It cannot be established through political power, for the political interests of nations are various and the policies of peoples are divergent and conflicting. It cannot be founded through racial or patriotic power, for these are human powers, selfish and weak. The very nature of racial differences and patriotic prejudices prevent the realization of this unity and agreement. Therefore it is established that the promotion of the oneness of the kingdom of humanity, which is the essence of the teachings of the Holy Manifestations of God, is impossible except through the Power Spiritual and breaths of the Holy Spirit. Other powers are too weak and are incapable of accomplishing this.
For man, two wings are necessary: One
wing is the physical power and material civilization;
the other is the spiritual power and
divine civilization. With one wing only flight
is impossible. Two wings are essential. Therefore
no matter how much material civilization[Page 8]
advances it cannot attain to perfection except
through uplift of the spiritual civilization.
All the Prophets have come to promote Divine bestowals, to found the spiritual civilization and teach the principles of morality. Therefore we must strive with all our powers so that spiritual influences may gain the victory. For material forces have attacked mankind. The world of humanity is submerged in a sea of materialism. The rays of the Sun of Reality are seen but dimly and darkly through opaque glasses. The penetrative power of the Divine Bounty is not fully manifest.
In Persia, among the various religions and sects there were intense differences. His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH appeared in that country and founded the spiritual civilization. He established affiliation among the various peoples, promoted the oneness of the human world, and unfurled the banner of the "Most Great Peace." He wrote special epistles covering these facts to all the great kings and rulers of nations. Sixty years ago He conveyed His Message to the leaders of the political world and to high dignitaries of the spiritual world. Therefore spiritual civilization is progressing in the Orient and oneness of humanity and peace among the nations is being accomplished step by step. Now I find a strong movement for Universal Peace emanating from America. It is my hope that this Standard of the oneness of the world of humanity may be upraised with the utmost solidity, so that the Orient and Occident may become perfectly reconciled with each other,—attain to the most complete inter-communication, the hearts of the East and West become united and attracted toward each other, real union become unveiled, the Light of Guidance shine, Divine effulgences be seen day by day,—so that the world of humanity may find complete rest, the eternal happiness of man become evident, and the hearts of the people of the world be as mirrors in which the rays of the Sun of Reality may be reflected. Consequently it is my request that you should strive so that the Light of Reality may shine and the everlasting felicity of the world of man become apparent.
I will pray for you, so you may obtain this everlasting happiness. When I arrived in this city I was made very happy for I perceived in reality the people here have capacity for Divine bestowals and have worthiness for the civilization of Heaven. Therefore I will now pray that you may attain to all Merciful Bounties.
O Almighty! O God! O Thou Compassionate One! This servant of Thine has hastened to the regions of the West from the uttermost parts of the East that perchance these nostrils may be perfumed by the Fragrances of Thy Bestowals; that the Breeze of the Rose Garden of Guidance may blow over these cities; that the people may attain to the capacity of receiving Thy Favors; that the hearts may be rejoiced through Thy Glad Tidings; that the eyes may behold the Light of Reality; that the ears may hearken to the Call of the Kingdom. O Almighty! Illumine the hearts! O Kind God! Make the souls the envy of the rose-garden and the meadow! O Incomparable Beloved! Waft the Fragrance of Thy Bounty! Radiate the Lights of Compassion so that the hearts may be cleansed and purified and that they may take a share and portion from Thy Confirmations! Verily this congregation is seeking Thy Path, searching for Thy Mystery, beholding Thy Face and desiring to be characterized with Thine Attributes.
O Almighty! Confer Thou Infinite Bounties! Bestow Thy Inexhaustible Treasury so that these impotent ones may become powerful!
Verily Thou art the Kind! Thou art the Generous! Thou are the Omniscient, the Omnipotent!
From The Bahai Revelation by Thornton Chase
THE BAB.IN the City of Shiraz, Persia, on the evening
of Jamali Awal 5th, 1260 A. H. (the 1260th
year of Mohammedan reckoning from the
Hejira), which was May 23rd, 1844, A. D., a
young man, afterward known as The Bab, or
Gate, began calling upon men to repent, to
purify their lives and to prepare to meet—"He
whom God shall manifest," who was
about to appear to fulfill the words of the
prophets and to proclaim the Word of God.
His mission was that of an Elias, a John the
Baptist, proclaiming the coming of one mightier
than him and calling upon men to prepare the
way for that coming.[Page 9]
The place and time of that declaration corresponded exactly with the prophecies in Israelitish, Christian and Mohammedan scriptures and traditions. It was in the Persian Kingdom, which was the especial field of Daniel's prophecies; it arose out of Mohammedanism which power was distinctly foretold as to appear in that former great kingdom of Persia; it was in the Mohammedan year 1260, which corresponded to the "time, times and half a time" named to Daniel as the period "of these wonders" to the time of the end, which same period is referred to in several ways in the Revelation of St. John. It was exactly 1000 years from the disappearance of the Twelfth Iman, the "Iman Mahdi," who was to appear at the end of that time to usher in the second coming of Christ upon the earth.
The date of fulfillment was in accurate accord with many prophecies, and the accompanying "signs" answered so literally to numerous declarations in various scriptures that many men of intellect, as well as those who were learned only in heart knowledge, believed in the Bab. His doctrine spread rapidly through Persia and inspired such spiritual zeal that it aroused the antagonism of the orthodox Ulamas and Doctors of religious law. Great oppression was incited by them, which finally drove the Babis to fight in self defense of their property and lives. The history of trials and sufferings, battles and martyrdoms, endurance and joy for their faith and love of Truth is authentic and scarcely paralleled in all the world.
One who witnessed such martyrdoms wrote: "How many children have become fatherless! How many fathers have become childless! How many mothers have not dared, through fear and dread, to mourn over their slaughtered children! Many were the servants (of God) who at eve were in wealth and opulence and at dawn were beheld in the extreme of poverty and abasement! There is no ground but hath been dyed with their blood and no air whereunto their groanings have not arisen! And, during these few years, the arrows of affliction have rained down without intermission from the clouds of fate.
"Yet, notwithstanding all these visitations and afflictions, the fire of divine love is in such fashion kindled in their hearts that, were they all to be hewn in pieces, they would not forswear the love of the Beloved of all the dwellers upon earth; nay, rather with their whole souls do they yearn and hope for what may befall them in the way of God."
A European witness (Mr. Ussher) said: "It was enough to be suspected of Babiism to be at once put to death. No time was lost between apprehension and execution. Death was the only punishment known; the headless bodies lay in the streets for days, the terrified relatives fearing to give them burial, and the dogs fought and growled over the corpses in the deserted thoroughfares."
For six years the Báb taught and wrote his instructions, known as the Beyan (Revelation), most of the time in prison, often "questioned" by the Ulamas, beaten and bastinadoed, and finally he was martyred in 1850, at the age of 30, in the public square of Tabriz.
An eye witness, not a believer, writes of him at that time: "The Báb kept perfectly silent. His pale and beautiful face surrounded by a black beard, his white and delicate hands, his figure and distinguished manner, everything in his person and in his dress aroused the sympathy and compassion of the spectators." "He had characteristics truly great and noble, and was a man of firm and settled convictions. His moral character was high, and he aimed in his teaching to bring all his countrymen into a community, united by intellectual and moral ties."
Prof. Ross, of University College, London, wrote: "His wonderful life needs no comment. If ever a life spoke for itself, it is the Bab's with its simplicity, integrity and unswerving devotion to the Truth that was born in him." "He felt the Truth in him, and in the proclamation of that Truth, he moved neither hand nor foot to spare himself, but unflinchingly submitted to all manner of injustice and persecution, and finally, to an ignominious death." "His influence penetrated deeper than their curiosity and their minds; it reached their hearts and inspired them with a spirit of self sacrifice, renunciation and devotion as remarkable and as admirable as his own."
In 1852-53, nine years after the first declaration
of the Bab, BAHA'O'LLAH, then 35 years of
age, a native of the City of Noor (Light) in
Persia and an exile to Baghdad in Arabia,
began teaching and expounding religious doctrines
in such a way that it attracted the hearts
of many listeners, especially the Babis, and
caused bitter opposition from others. As contention
grew, he quietly left Baghdad and for
two years remained alone in seclusion in the[Page 10]
mountains of Sarkalu, his whereabouts unknown
to all. When he returned to Baghdad
the teaching was renewed and in 1863 A. D.,
nineteen years after the Bab's proclamation,
he openly declared his mission as "He whom
God shall manifest," for twelve successive days
in the Rizwan or garden of the city.
At that time he and his followers, now known as Bahais, were removed to Constantinople and soon after to Adrianople, where they remained until 1868 A. D., when, under pressure from enemies, they were transported to the political prison of Acca in Syria. Acca is about twenty miles from Nazareth, the home of Jesus, and nine miles from Mt. Carmel, the scene of many scriptural events. Thus was the Bahai Manifestation driven by its enemies into the Holy Land, God's Land of Promise. "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform!"
The purpose of this imprisonment was to exterminate the movement, as it was supposed to be already extinguished in Persia by the killing of all who were known to be affiliated with it. Acca was famous for its deadly malarial conditions and prisoners there were usually short lived. It was said that a bird attempting to fly over Acca would drop dead. All but a scattered and unknown few of the former Babis in Persia had been martyred. There were seventy men, women and children with BAHA'O'LLAH in that exile, and so secretly were they removed to Acca, so close was the imprisonment there that, for a long time, none of the "friends" in Persia or elsewhere knew what had become of them.
BAHA'O'LLAH was confined alone in the highest room in the prison tower and all of the others were herded together like cattle in a large room in the barracks below. They were allowed no communication with persons outside; they were subjected to extreme hunger, vile food and water, mud, filth and disease; typhoid fever and dysentery broke out among them and all but five were ill. Even some of their guards were sick. One man only was left to care for them all; that man was Abbas Effendi, the son of BAHA'O'LLAH, now known as Abdul-Baha, the Servant of the Glory of God. In spite of the horror, disease, oppression and suffering, these people lived to be released from close imprisonment after a long period, and eventually they were allowed the freedom of the Valley of Acca, reaching from Acca to Haifa, nine miles away.
It was during this time of strictest confinement, when each loaf of bread was cut open by the guards to see that it contained no communication, that the long epistles, "Letters to the Kings," were sent from that prison tower to the monarchs of the earth, including the Pope at Rome, Queen Victoria, Napoleon III, and the President of the United States, calling upon them to recognize BAHA'O'LLAH as the Messenger of God. It was then, when the Cause seemed to human sight to be extinct and buried beyond possibility of resurrection, the most triumphant pæans of victory penned by the exiled captive in his silent chamber in the prison tower of Acca. He proclaimed the triumph of the Spirit of God over the whole earth as an accomplished fact, the utter defeat and rout of the hosts of darkness and the victory of the Glory of God (BAHA'O'LLAH), the Word of God, over the hearts of men throughout the world. Today, minions of happy souls are rejoicing in that Word, devoting their lives to that Cause and proving that the Word was divine and from the Almighty God, and that the imprisoned man, who suffered that the Word might come to its new birth and maturity among men, was indeed the Manifestation of the Will of God.
For forty years BAHA'O'LLAH taught and wrote, all of that time an exile and much of it in what he called—"the greatest prison." His works are voluminous and all are filled with instructions of exalted wisdom for both the spiritual and material evolution of man. They parallel the divine teachings of all past ages, illumining and showing them forth in wonderful clearness and new beauty. They meet the needs of the spiritually hungry in every religion and clime; they penetrate the hearts and thrill the souls with divine aspiration and light; they melt away all separateness in the fires of love and bring believers from every part of the world into a perfect unity.
Prof. Edward G. Browne, Lecturer in Persian
to the University of Cambridge, England,
who visited BAHA'O'LLAH in 1890, said: "The
face of him on whom I gazed I can never
forget, though I cannot describe it. Those
piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul;
power and authority sat on that ample brow,
while the deep lines on the forehead and face
implied an age which the jet black hair and
beard, flowing down in indistinguishable luxuriance
almost to the waist, seemed to belie.
No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as
I bowed myself before one who is the object
of a devotion and love which kings might envy
and emperors sigh for in vain."[Page 11]
Before his departure in May, 1892, BAHA'O'LLAH appointed his son Abbas Effendi, Abdul-Baha, to be the "Center of the Covenant" of Light, Love and Peace which he had founded in the Name of God. He commanded all to turn their faces to Abdul-Baha for understanding, thus making him the authorized Interpreter of his writings. The only claim that Abdul-Baha makes for himself is this authority of interpretation and that he is Abdul-Baha—the Servant of God in this Revelation.
Abdul-Baha Abbas was born in Teheran, Persia, on the evening of May 23rd, 1844, A. D., at the very hour while the Báb was uttering in Shiraz his declaration of the fulness of the times and the coming of the Great Revealer. He was not of the family of the Bab, and the Báb could not have known his birth by any material means. At nine years of age he accompanied his father in the journey of exile to Baghdad, and from that time he shared every hardship, suffering and imprisonment, ever manifesting such remarkable wisdom, influence, helpfulness and endurance that he was always called "The Master." He proved his mastership in every emergency, whether of contention, oppression and persecution, or in severest trials and sufferings. Prof. Browne says of his meeting the "Master" in April, 1890:
"One more eloquent of speech, more ready of argument, more apt of illustration, more intimately acquainted with the sacred books of the Jews, the Christians and the Mohammedans, could, I should think, scarcely be found even amongst the eloquent, ready and subtle race to which he belongs. These qualities, combined with a bearing at once majestic and genial, made me cease to wonder at the influence and esteem which he enjoyed even beyond the circle of his father's followers. About the greatness of this man and his power no one who had seen him could entertain a doubt."
The Declaration of the Báb and the birth of Abbas Effendi in different parts of the kingdom of Persia simultaneously on May 23rd, 1844, were the Forewords of the coming Revelation, the establishment of the "new heaven," the Spiritual Kingdom of God upon earth, and the unity of mankind in the universal knowledge of One God and in the peace of obedience to his declared Will.
The declaration of telegraphic success, in the words, "What hath God wrought!"—flashing out in America on the morning of May 24th, 1844, was the material response and foreword of the "new earth" to be created for the physical welfare of man in the millennial age about to appear. The spiritual proclamation came from the East; the material answered from the West.
That material prophecy has been followed by such a wealth of revealing of the hidden powers and gifts of nature that man is overwhelmed and amazed, and has as yet comprehend but a small portion of the values already discovered, while he perceives a host of new wonders pressing upon him. Mr. Thomas A. Edison says: "Scientific discoveries are coming so thick and fast, there are so many of us working like beavers at them, that it is appalling merely to think about possibilities in the future. Everything, anything is possible; the world is a vast storehouse of undiscovered energy."
The spiritual Forewords were followed by such a spiritual resurrection and devotion as the world has not witnessed before, tens of thousands of saints gladly, joyfully suffering every indignity, loss, cruelty, and finally martyrdom for their pure faith in the Word of God and their love for Him. Then came the Great Revelation, BAHA'O'LLAH, the Glory of God, opening the books of the past, renewing the Word of God, calling all mankind to the table of the Lord descending from the heaven, and laying the foundations for the ascent of humanity into a glorious manhood of Godly knowledge, salvation and life.
And now the Son and Servant, Abdul-Baha, is spreading that divine Word to the farthest corners of the earth, and the advancing ones, the fearless lovers of Truth, those who long for nearness to God and obedience to his Will, are gathering to that Standard of Peace and Love from every religion, land and race. "Glory be upon the people of Glory!"
OUR PERSIAN SECTION this issue contains: (1) Tablet from Abdul-Baha to the STAR OF THE WEST; (2) New Year's [Naw-rooz] Greeting; (3) concerning the fourth year of the STAR OF THE WEST; (4) talk by Abdul-Baha, "The Promised One of All Nations and Religions"; (5) conclusion of the life story of Janabe Badie, the Martyr; (6) talk by Abdul-Baha, "Causes of the People being veiled from the Manifestations of God"; (7) Glad-tidings from Paris.
The Editors.
BY MIRZA ASSAD'U'LLAH
God is the One who inspireth the hearts of His servants with that which he willeth!
In the Name of our Lord, BAHA'O'LLAH!
HE IS GOD!I TESTIFY with my being and identity that verily He is God! There is no God but Him! He hath ever been God, and will be forever more the One, the Self-subsistent, the Eternal!
And I testify that verily the Blessed Perfection, His Holiness, BAHA'O'LLAH, is no other than the Most Great Manifestation—magnified is His Grandeur and Glory!—who was promised in all the Holy Scriptures, and that the most great Mystery of God, THE BRANCH extended from the Ancient Root, who hath decorated his head with the crown of Servitude and named himself Abdul-Baha (the Servant of Baha), is the Successor of the Blessed Perfection, the Center of His Covenant, and the Aim of His Testament.
And I testify that the hands of the Cause of God, bearers of His Ordinances to the servants and preachers of His Manifestation in the countries, are the saints of God and His chosen ones. By them the standard of the Cause of God is raised and His Signs are promulgated among the creatures. They are the lamps of God for all in the heaven and upon earth. Upon them be the Glory of God, His Praise and His Mercy!
O ye, our brothers, who believe in God and in the Books of all His religions! Know that all of us are unanimously believing in the Ancient Entity, the Eternal God; that He is the Creator of all things; that, verily, He hath ever been and will continue to be forever.
We also believe that the Prophets and the Manifestations of God were all bearers of the Message of God, and that the Holy Scriptures are His books. Accordingly, our belief and religion is that all the Prophets are of necessity as one light, one reality and as the rays of one sun, even though they may appear to be different each from the other and each as a different person talking in a different tongue. Therefore, all their laws and books must needs be as One Law and One Book, even though some of the ordinances be, in form, contradictory to others; because all of them have spoken on the part of God, the One, the Unit, and all the Ordinances and Laws are also revealed on His part. This assertion is in no need of further rational proof.
Now we submit that there are in the Holy Scriptures references concerning the Most Great Manifestation, and other predictions and signs regarding the "end of the days." These prophecies are recorded in various texts, both chronological and symbolical. All the nations have awaited the appearance of such signs, and the coming Manifestation of their Promised One, with earnest expectation. Yet, to the present day, the Sun of their hopes has not appeared to them from the horizon of their expectation.
As to the honorable and faithful Bahais, they believe that, verily, the promises and prophecies given in the Holy Scriptures have become fulfilled during the nineteenth century after Christ by the appearance of the Prince of the Universe—the Most Great BAHA'O'LLAH, exalted is His Glory! This claim, held by them, is the best tidings to the expectant ones and a great joy to the seekers. But only those can approve it who are endowed with a pure heart and fortified with the confirmation of God, and who hearken with sincerity to perfect proofs, to decisive and satisfactory arguments.
The Bahai people is ready with all power and strength to prove its claim and to unfold
the truth of its religion, not through material force, but by spiritual power; not through the
strength of this world, but by that of the Kingdom. The Bahais wage war with all the armies
of the nations of the world, not with swords and weapons, but through the power of Utterance
and the unfoldment of the mysteries and meanings of the Divine Words. They subdue the
cities of hearts, not with assaults of armies of men, but rather by indisputable proofs, by love,
compassion and affection. Their sword is the Word of God; their hosts the divine Inspiration;[Page 13]
their ranks, submissiveness, humbleness, meekness, unselfishness and pure servitude in
the presence of every soul, of whatsoever religious nation and toward every being in existence.
Their religion is to serve the people in the world; their principle is obedience to government; their teaching is summoning people unto God, the True One; their rewards and recompense come only from God; they freely offer to people the Bread of Life and freely give them the Water of Life. Let him who hungers and thirsts partake freely of their Table. Verily the doors of heaven are opened by the keys of the Knowledge of His Holiness, BAHA'O'LLAH, the paradise of Enlightenment is decorated, the rivers of Inner Significances are flowing, the birds of Sacred Mysteries are soaring around, and the Spiritual Foods are prepared.
Blessed are they who do eat! Blessed are they who drink!
- "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in MY NAME,
saying, I am CHRIST; and shall deceive many. * * * And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. * * * Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; in so much that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."—Twenty-fourth chapter St. Matthew.
- "Behold I come quickly. * * * Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of my God * * * and I will write upon him MY NEW NAME. * * * He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."—Revelation III:11-13.
- "O Concourse of the Son (Christians)! Are ye hidden from Myself
because of MY NAME?"—Words of BAHA'O'LLAH, from the Lawh-el-Akdas.
Many sincere Christians, when hearing of the Bahai Revelation, classify its Founders with the false prophets above referred to by Jesus; some hesitate to investigate its claims through fear of being deceived, while others are disturbed when hearing new Names.
To such souls, we say that these very objections in reality confirm the truth of the claim of the Bahai Revelation: that it is the fulfillment of the promises of the "second coming" with a new Name.
To explain: The Spirit (Christ) was careful to state that many would arise in His Name—i. e., in or with the Name, "Christ" (which came to pass during the nineteenth century), but in the book of Revelation, as a further protection, He (the Spirit) was also careful to state: "Behold I come quickly. * * * Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God * * * and I will write upon him MY NEW NAME."
The following article, "Lawh-el-Akdas, the Holy Tablet"—which is BAHA'O'LLAH'S Declaration to the Christian world—is addressed especially to those "whom the covering of The Names hath not kept from God." He asks: "O Concourse of the Son (Christians)! Are ye hidden from Myself because of MY NAME?'
As this is but one of many points of the twenty-fourth chapter of St. Matthew referred to in this remarkable Tablet, we would suggest the perusal of the chapter before reading the Tablet.
We would further suggest to the seeker for
knowledge the reading of the "Book of
Ighan," revealed by BAHA'O'LLAH—a work of
about 200 pages—wherein nearly fifty pages
(18 to 67) are devoted to the interpretation
of three verses of this same twenty-fourth
chapter of St. Matthew.—The Editors.[Page 14]
[This is the Tablet of Akdas, revealed from the Holy Kingdom to the one who hath approached the Kibla of the world Who hath come from the Heaven of Pre-Existence with His Most Great Glory] :
IN the Name of the Lord, The Lord of Great Glory! This is a Book from before Us to the one whom the covering of The Names hath not kept from GOD the Creator of the earth and heaven, whereby his eyes may be enlightened in the Days of his Lord, The Protector, The Self-Subsistent!
Say: O Concourse of the Son (Christians)! Are ye hidden from Myself because of My Name? What maketh ye to doubt? Ye have called for your Lord the Self-Dependent, night and day and when He hath come from the Heaven of Pre-Existence, in His Greatest Glory, ye have not approached Him, and were of the heedless. Then consider those who turned away from the Spirit (Christ) when He came to them with manifest power. How many of the Pharisees were abiding in the Temples in His Name, and were entreating because of His separation! But when the Gate of Union was opened and the Light shone forth from the Day-Spring of Beauty, they disbelieved in GOD, The Exalted and The Great, and did not attain to His Visitation, after having been promised thereunto in the Book of Isaiah, as well as in the Books of the Prophets and the Apostles. No one of them approached the Day-Spring of Favor except those who were of no account among the people, but in whose names all the lords of evident honor boast at the present day. Remember, the most learned Doctors of His country in His age condemned Him to be killed, whilst one who was a catcher of fishes believed in Him. Be astonished thereat and be of those who remember! Likewise look at this time. How many monks were abiding in churches and were calling for the Spirit, and when He came in truth, they approached Him not and were of those who are afar! Blessed is whosoever abandoned them and approached the Aim of all that is in the heavens and earth. They read the Gospel and confess not in The Glorious Lord, after coming in His Holy, Mighty and Beautiful Kingdom. Say: Verily We have come unto you and have endured the abominations of the world because of your salvation. Do ye flee from Him who hath redeemed His Soul for your lives? Fear GOD, O Concourse of the Spirit, and follow not all learned men who are afar. Do ye suppose that He hath desired His soul after being at every instant under the swords of the enemy? or that He desired the world after being imprisoned in the most ruined of cities? Then judge thereupon and follow not the oppressors. Open the doors of your minds; verily the Spirit standeth behind them. What maketh ye to keep afar from Him who hath desired to bring ye nigh to the Shining Abode? Say: Verily We have opened unto you the Gates of the Kingdom; are ye closing the door of your houses before My Face? Verily this is naught but a great error. Say: Verily He hath come from Heaven as He came from it the first time; beware lest ye contradict that which He saith, as the nations before you contradicted that which He said. Thus do I make known to you the truth, if you are of those who know.
Surely the River Jordan hath joined with the Great Sea; the Son in the holy valley calleth "Labeick," "I am ready, O my GOD, I am ready"; and the Mount circles around the House and the Tree calleth, "Surely the Desired One hath come in His Exalted Glory." Say: Surely THE FATHER hath come and hath fulfilled that whereunto you were promised in the Kingdom of GOD. This is the Word the Son veiled when He said to those around Him that at that time they could not bear it; but when the stated time was ended and the hour arrived, the Word shone forth from the Horizon of The Will. Beware O Concourse of the Son, cast it not behind ye, but hold thereunto! It is better for ye than all that which is before ye. Verily He is near to the charitable.
Surely the hour hath passed, the knowledge of which We had veiled from all that is in[Page 15]
the earth, and from the Angels of the Presence. Say: Verily He beareth witness to Me
and I bear witness to Him; verily He desired naught but My Person, whereunto bear witness
all those just ones who know. Verily We are inviting to GOD the Lord of the Names,
in the midst of afflictions. Say: Continue in that which is promised unto you in the Books
of GOD, and walk not in the path of the ignorant.
Surely My Body is imprisoned for the salvation of your souls; then draw nigh to The Face, and follow not all the obstinate proud ones. Verily He hath accepted the greatest abasement for your honor, and ye are diverting yourselves in the valley of heedlessness. Verily He is in the most ruined of houses for your sakes, and ye are sitting in palaces.
Say: Have ye not heard the sound of the voice of the Crier who is crying in the wilderness of the Beyan, proclaiming to you your Merciful Lord? Know that surely He hath come in the Truth, in the shadow of demonstration, with proof and argument, and the Unitarians are beholding the Kingdom before their faces. Blessed is he who approacheth Him, and woe to all deniers and doubters.
Say unto the Priest that the Chief hath surely come. Then emerge from behind the veil, in the Name of thy Lord, and proclaim to the people this Greatest and Exalted Manifestation. Verily the Spirit of Truth hath come to guide you into all Truth. Verily He speaketh not unto you from Himself, nay rather from before the All-Knowing and Wise. Say: He is the One whom the Son hath glorified and hath upraised His Command. Abandon that which is before you, O people of the earth, and take that which is commanded you from before the Powerful, the Faithful. Purify your ears and turn your minds to hear the sweet Call which hath arisen from the direction of Sinai the abode of your Most Glorious (ABHA) Lord. Verily He attracts you unto a station wherein you will behold the Lights of the Face, which hath shone forth from this brilliant Horizon.
Say: O Concourse of Priests, leave the bells, then come out from the Churches. In this Day it behooveth you to proclaim in this Greatest Name among the nations. Do you choose to be silent whilst all trees and stones are calling out with the loudest voice "Surely the Lord hath come, the Possessor of Great Glory"? Blessed is he who hasteneth unto Him. Verily he is of those whose names will be established for ever and whom the Supreme Concourse will remember. The Command is appointed from before the Spirit in this wonderful Tablet.
He who inviteth the people in My Name, he is of Me, and from him will appear that which will be beyond the power of all that is in the earth. Then follow the Path of the Lord, and follow not the heedless. Blessed is the sleeper who will awaken by these Powers and will stand up among the dead, directing himself in the Path of the Lord; verily he is of the essence of the creatures before the True One, and verily he is of those who have attained.
Say: Verily He hath surely shone forth from the direction of the Orient, and His Signs have appeared in the Occident. Think thereupon O people, and be not like unto those who neglected The Remembrancer when He came unto them from before The Mighty, The Laudable. Awake by the Breezes of GOD! Verily they have blown in the world. Blessing to whosoever hath found their fragrance and is of the assured.
Say: O Concourse of Bishops! Ye are the stars of the heaven of My Knowledge. My Favor liketh it not that ye fall down upon the face of the earth, but My Equity saith, this is that which is appointed by the Son, and whatsoever hath issued from His Pure, Faithful and True Mouth shall not change. Verily the bell is ringing in My Name and is mourning for My Soul, but the Spirit is in manifest gladness.
Say: The Body of The Beloved is yearning after the Cross, and His Head desireth the spear in the Path of the Merciful. Verily the assault of the oppressors keepeth Him not from that which He desireth. Surely We have abandoned all things to the Meeting
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.
EDITORS: ALBERT R. WINDUST — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA — DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
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. IV Chicago (March 21, 1913) Baha No. 1
"TEACH THE CAUSE! CONVEY THE MESSAGE!* AWAKEN SOULS!"
Words of Abdul-Baha uttered in England, January 16,1913THE Cause has become very great. Many souls are entering it—souls with different mentalities and degrees of understanding. Complex difficulties constantly rise before us. The administration of the Cause has become most difficult. Conflicting thought and theories attack the Cause from every side. Now consider to what extent the believers in God must become firm and soul-sacrificing. Every one of the friends must become the essence of essences; each one must become a brilliant lamp. People all around the world are entering the Cause; people of various tribes and nations and religions and sects. It is most difficult to administer to such heterogeneous elements. Wisdom and Divine insight are necessary. Firmness and steadfastness are needed at such a crucial period of the Cause. All the meetings must be for teaching the Cause and spreading the Message, and suffering the souls to enter in the Kingdom of BAHA'O'LLAH. Look at me. All my thoughts are centered around the proclamation of the Kingdom. I have a Lamp in my hand searching through the lands and seas to find souls who can become heralds of the Cause. Day and night I am engaged in this work. Any
*NOTE—In compliance with Abdul-Baha's wish as expressed in this article, we have compiled this issue of the STAR OF THE WEST to assist those who desire to "convey the Message and awaken souls."—The Editors.
other deliberations in the meetings are futile and fruitless. Convey the Message! Attract the hearts! Sow the seeds! Teach the Cause to those who do not know.
It is now six months that Seyed Assadullah has implored that I write a few lines to my sister and my daughters. I have not done this because I find I must teach. I enter all meetings, all churches, so that the Cause may be spread. When the MOST IMPORTANT work is before our sight, we must let go the Important one.
If the meetings or Spiritual Assembly has
any other occupation, the time is spent in
futility. All the deliberations, all consultation,
all the talks and addresses must revolve
around one focal center and that is:
TEACH THE CAUSE! TEACH! TEACH! Convey
the Message! Awaken the souls! Now
is the time of laying the foundation. Now
must we gather brick, stone, wood, iron, and
other building materials! Now is not the
time of decoration. We must strive day and
night and think and work. What can I say
that may become effective? What can I do
that may bring results? What can I write
that may bring forth fruits? Nothing else
will be useful, today. The interests of such
a Glorious Cause will not advance without
undivided attention. While we are carrying
this load we cannot carry any other load![Page 17]
IT is with pleasure that the Executive Committee of the Bahai Temple Unity announces that the $3,000 and interest due March 1, has been paid. We appreciate and thank the friends for their hearty co-operation and support.
We are also pleased to advise you that there was a surplus of $412.62 in the treasury for the use of the trustees towards paying for the coming taxes this spring. We shall need, however, about $300 additional to fully meet
Scene inside tent erected on Mashrak-el-Azkar site.
the total amount of taxes and assessments due. Our next payment upon the Lake Shore tract is due September 1, 1913, and we hope that all the friends will bear this in mind and continue their endeavors in raising funds, so that this payment may be promptly met.
We appreciate very greatly the hearty response that has been given to all past calls for funds and with your continued co-operation we shall soon clear the whole indebtedness of the Lake Shore tract, as we have previously managed to clear the debt upon the main tract.
*NOTE—The Mashrak-el-Azkar—literally the Dawning-place of Praises—is an edifice where people of different nativities, races, colors, faiths, sects, denominations shall meet under one dome and adore the One God in the same spirit of Truth. The first to be erected in the Western world will be upon a tract of land comprising The Executive Committee can proceed with its work only in proportion to the funds on hand. We are striving to accomplish a great deal in the way of improvement, but our first duty and instruction from Abdul-Baha is to clear the land of debt; then we can give more consideration to the buildings which shall be erected thereon. We realize the sacrifice many have made during the past year, but we must not allow ourselves to lapse into inactivity, but rather show forth greater
zeal and energy since Abdul-Baha has left our shores, and should he return to America in the near future we should strive to have enough work done upon the main building that he may lay its cornerstone. This will call for combined energy of the friends.
To the Bahai Assemblies of America, Greeting:
In accordance with provision of Article 6 of the Constitution of Bahai Temple Unity, the Executive Board of the Unity announces that the Annual Convention of the Unity will be
about five acres near Chicago, which has been
paid for with contributions sent from nearly
every country on the globe by people formerly
adherents of the seven great religions. It will be
an outward expression of the new Consciousness,
proving the Century of Light has arrived.—The
Editors.[Page 18]
held in the city of New York from April 26
to April 29, 1913.
The New York Assembly most cordially invites the delegates and visiting friends to report at Hotel St. Andrews, corner Broadway and 72d street, on Saturday, April 26, 1913, where they will be met by the Reception Committee, who will confer with all delegates and friends on arrangements.
The first business session of the convention will be held at 10 a. m. Monday, April 28, in accordance with Article 4 of the Constitution.
All Assemblies or Centers which have not received a copy of the call sent out by the Secretary, should they feel able to send delegates, will kindly elect the same and send his or her name to the Secretary of this Board, Mr. Bernard M. Jacobsen, 5338 Kenmore avenue, Chicago, Ill., on or before the 12th day of April, 1913, so their names may be forwarded with all others received to the Reception Committee in New York.
The friends will notice that the place of convention has been changed this year. At a meeting of the Executive Board held February 8 and 9, 1913, the question of movable conventions was taken up and after consultation it was the unanimous opinion of all present that it would serve the best interests of the Unity if conventions were held in other cities. A resolution was passed and a cablegram forwarded to Abdul-Baha, asking his guidance in the matter. His answer was "Hold conventions in other cities." We, in accordance therewith, have arranged to hold the convention this year in the city of New York after consultation with the New York Assembly and, therefore, urge all Assemblies to send a delegate in order that as large a representation as possible may be gathered together for this event.
- Yours in service,
- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF
- BAHAI TEMPLE UNITY.
- Bernard M. Jacobsen. Secretary.
ONE of the Bahai Friends said to Abdul-Baha, "What we expected in connection with your visit to America has not happened and what we did not expect to happen has indeed come to pass. We expected an attitude of hostility toward you by the clergy and theologians. Instead of this they have welcomed you in the spirit of fairness and sincerity. We did not expect the churches and religious societies would open their doors, but they have done so and most of your important public addresses have been delivered from pulpits of various denominations."
Abdul-Baha replied. "According to the record of three Gospels, His Holiness Jesus Christ went into the Temple of Jerusalem, rebuked the Jews for the degeneracy of their worship into materialistic forms and delivered the Message of Divine Glad-tidings. For nineteen hundred years this has been pointed out by Christians as a most wonderful event,—that His Holiness without opposition from the Jews was permitted to enter their most sacred place of worship and proclaim the Word of God. Consider what has happened in this century. During the past year we have been welcomed in churches and pulpits of Europe and America by different denominations,—upraising the Divine Standard of Unity, summoning mankind to the Glad Tidings of the Most Great Peace, proclaiming the Reality of the Kingdom of ABHA. And this has been accomplished not only without opposition but by invitation, and in a spirit of the utmost love and fragrance. Consider therefore the wonderful influence and importance of this in the future."
"In my talks with the reverend doctors of
religion and men of the peace societies I have
spoken the Glad-tidings of BAHA'O'LLAH, but
always according to their varying need and
capacity. As capacities differ, the purpose must
be to satisfy the degree of hunger, destroy all
possible antagonism and establish a point of
agreement. We cannot induce men to lay
down their arms by fighting with them. War
intensifies the spirit of strife. War begets
war. We are peacemakers, not destroyers of
peace. Therefore Abdul-Baha finds the note
of harmony which vibrates in every human
heart. This is our subtle basis. Build upon it.
Follow no other method. Talk about things
upon which we agree and say nothing about
things upon which we differ. We must disorganize
humanism in order to construct a
spiritual edifice in the world of humanity.
This edifice is heavenly but its foundations are
planted in the unity of human hearts."[Page 19]
of thy Lord the Possessor of Names. Blessed are those who draw nigh to GOD the Lord of the Day of Judgment.
O Concourse of Monks! If ye follow Me I will appoint ye heirs of My Kingdom, and if ye disobey Me, in My forbearance I will endure it patiently: verily I am the Forgiver and the Merciful.
O land of Syria! Where is thy righteousness? Surely thou hast attained the honor of the Feet of thy Lord. Have ye discovered the fragrance of Union, or are ye of the heedless? Bethlehem is even now stirred by the Breeze of GOD. I hear its call, saying "O generous Lord, where is Thy Great Glory established? The Breaths of Thy Union have already quickened me after being melted because of my separation. Praise be unto Thee for Thou hast uncovered the veilings and hast come with power in manifest glory." We called unto it from behind the Canopy of Majesty and Greatness: "O Bethlehem! This Light hath already appeared from the Orient and hath journeyed toward the Occident until it came unto thee in its latter days. Then tell Me: do the children know THE FATHER and confess Him, or do they contradict Him as the people contradicted Him before?" Thereupon its cry arose and said "Thou are the Knowing, the All-Informed."
Verily We testify that all things bear witness to Us, whereof some know and bear witness, but the majority bear witness and know not. Mount Sinai already shakes with the shock of Meeting, and hath raised its sweet call to the remembrance of its Lord the ABHA (the Most Glorious) and saith: 'O my Lord, I perceive the fragrance of Thy Garment as Thou hast approached with Signs and hast honored these countries by Thy Feet. Blessing be unto Thy people if they know Thee and discover Thy Fragrance, and woe unto those who sleep!
Blessing be unto thee, O thou who hast approached the Face, for thou hast torn off the coverings, broken the idols and known thy Pre-Existent Lord. Surely the people of the Koran have stood against Us without any proof or argument, and have tortured Us at every instant with a new torment, supposing verily that calamities will prevent Us from that which We have desired; but what they suppose is false. Verily thy Lord is Powerful in that which He desireth.
I passed not by any tree, except My mind addressed it: "Would that thou wert cut down in My Name and that My Body were crucified upon thee." This is that which We have revealed in the Book of the King (Shah of Persia), that it may be a remembrance of Me to the people of religions. Verily thy Lord is the Knowing, the Wise.
Verily grieve thou not for all they have committed. Verily they are dead and not living; leave them to the dead and turn thy face to the Reviver of all creatures. Beware lest thou art grieved by the sayings of those who have neglected. Be steadfast in the Cause and teach the people with great wisdom. In such wise commandeth thee the Lord of the earth and heaven. Verily He is the Mighty and the Generous.
GOD shall soon exalt thy remembrance and will establish whatsoever thou hast spoken in His Love with the Supreme Pen. Verily He is an Assister to the charitable.
Remember from My Part he who is named Murad, and say: "Blessing be unto thee, O Murad, who hath cast away thy desire and seized the Desire of all the creatures."
Say: Blessed is the sleeper who is awakened by My Breezes. Blessed is the dead
who is quickened by My Breaths. Blessed is the eye that is enlightened by My Beauty.
Blessed is the seeker who sought the tent of My Majesty and My Greatness. Blessed
is the affrighted one who took refuge under the shadow of My Domes. Blessed is the
thirsty one who hastened to the Salsabil of My Favor. Blessed is the hungry one who
hastened away from desire because of My Passion, and was present at the Table that
descended from the Heaven of My Grace for My elect. Blessed is the lowly one who
held to the Rope of My Might, and the poor who took shelter under the shade of the[Page 20]
Canopy of My Wealth. Blessed is the ignorant one who desired the Kawther of My
Knowledge, and the heedless one who held to the Rope of My Remembrance. Blessed is
the spirit who was stirred by My Breath and entered My Kingdom. Blessed is the soul
whom the fragrance of My Union shook and attracted to the Day-Spring of My Command.
Blessed is the ear which heard, the tongue which witnessed and the eye which beheld and
knew the Soul of the Lord, the Possessor of Glory and Dominion, and the Lord of
Majesty and Might. Blessed are those who have attained. Blessed is whosoever is
illumined by the Sun of My Word. Blessed is whosoever adorned his head with the
Wreath of My Love. Blessed is he who heard My grief and rose up for My assistance
among My people. Blessed is he who redeemed himself in My Path and suffered tribulations
for My Name. Blessed is he who was assured in My Word and stood up among
the dead for My Remembrance. Blessed is he who was attracted by My Melodies and rent
the coverings by My Power. Blessed is he who performed My Covenant and was not
prevented by the world from entering the Court of My Holiness. Blessed is he who cut
himself from all other than Me, soared in the ether of My Love, entered My Kingdom,
perceived the Dominions of My Might, drank the Kawther of My Favor and the Salsabil
of My Grace, and was informed of My Command and of whatsoever was hidden in the
Treasuries of My Words, and shone forth from the Horizon of Inner Significance in My
Commemoration and My Praise. Verily he is of Mine. May My Mercy, Grace, Favor and
Glory be unto him!
To the Believers of God and the Maid-servants of the Merciful throughout the World
[Revealed several years ago]
Upon them be BAHA'O'LLAH EL-ABHA!
HE IS GOD!
O YE spiritual friends of Abdul-Baha!
"Perfume Thou the East! Illumine Thou the West! Bestow Thou light to the North! Grant Thou life to the South!"
This verse hath been revealed from the lips of the Center of the Covenant one year after the departure of BAHA'O'LLAH. But the Nakazeen (not understanding its spiritual purport) wondered and derided. Praise be to God! that now its signs have become manifest, its powers evident, and its proof plain. Thanks be unto Him! that the East and the West are stirred into cheerfulness, and through the Holy Fragrances all directions are perfumed.
The Blessed Perfection, in a clear text, hath promised us in the Book: "Verily I behold you from the horizon of ABHA and will make victorious whomsoever will arise in the service of my Cause with the hosts of the Supreme Concourse and the cohorts of the favored angels." Praise be to God! that this victory and confirmation became visible and manifest and hath shone forth from the horizon of the world like unto the sun.
Therefore, O ye friends of God! Show ye
forth an earnest endeavor and display ye a
resolute effort, so that ye may become assisted
in the adoration of the Ancient Beauty
and the Manifest Light; to be the cause of
spreading the light of the Sun of Truth;
to infuse into the dead, antiquated body of
the world a new spirit; to cast in the fields
of the hearts pure seeds; to arise in the
service of the Cause; to speak with eloquent
tongues; to become candles of guidance in
the assemblage of the world; to become
shining stars in the horizon of the existent
being; to become merciful birds in the rose
garden of oneness; to sing the melodies of
realities and significances; to spend every
breath of your existence in the service of this
conspicuous light; so that in the end ye
may be freed from loss and failure and attain
to the inexhaustible treasury of the Kingdom.
For the life of man is wholly subject to
danger and impermanency. A person cannot
put his assurance even in one moment's continuity.
Notwithstanding this, the nations of
the world, deceived by the mirage of superstition,
imagine themselves secure in the
heavenly way. Alas! Alas! Former communities[Page 21]
in bygone ages entertained the same perishing
thoughts; but by one of those periodical
fluctuations they were all hidden under the
ground, and afflicted with deprivation and loss,
except those souls who had become pure evanescence
and had arisen with a great self-abnegation
in the path of God. Such souls shine
forth as brilliant stars from the horizon of
the Ancient Glory, and the results which emanated
from their lives in succeeding ages and
cycles are the proofs of this statement. Therefore,
do not ye rest, neither day nor night;
seek not ye for composure; talk ye of the
mystery of servitude, and seek ye the path of
thralldom; so that through the promised confirmations
ye may receive assistance from the
Kingdom of Oneness.
O ye friends! Dense and gloomy clouds have covered the horizon of the world, and the darkness of hatred, malignity, persecution, tyranny and the greatest cruelty is spreading. All the people are drunk with the wine of heedlessness; and bloodthirstiness and rapaciousness are considered the noblest excellencies of the world of men.
His Highness the Almighty hath chosen the friends from among the concourse of men and hath especialized them with the most eminent guidance and the highest gift; so that we may with our souls and hearts exert ourselves, sacrifice our lives, be engaged in the guidance of the people and the training of souls; so that the wild beasts may become the gazelles of the meadows of unity; the wolves the sheep of God; the bloodthirsty ones the heavenly angels; the fire of malice be extinguished and the flame of safety in the blessed tabernacle bestow illumination; the odor of the nether realm of infidelity be dispelled and the fragrances of the rose garden of faithfulness be diffused in all parts; the weak draw light from the Universal Reason and evil souls seek to be purified with the holy and divine Breath. There are needed manifestors for this gift; farmers for this field; gardeners for this rose garden; fishers for this sea; luminous stars for this heaven; spiritual physicians for these ill ones, and loving guides for these wanderers; so that they may bestow a share on those who are deprived, grant a portion to those who are shareless, give unmeasured treasure to the indigent ones, and show forth the power of proof to the seekers.
Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I supplicate unto Thee, O Thou my Helper! I invoke Thee, O Thou my Refuge! I utter to Thee my agonies, O Thou my Physician, and entreat Thee with all my heart, my soul and my spirit, saying: O my God! O my God! Verily, the gloomy night hath fallen upon all regions and the clouds of ignorance have extended in all directions; the people are immersed in the darkness of surmise and the tyrants are sunk in the depths of brutality and lawlessness. The red glare of the burning fire is flashing forth from the nether world, roaring, ominous voices are rising from the cruel, destructive and terrible armaments; every region is crying out with its dumb secret tongue: "Nothing that I possess hath benefited me and power and strength are taken away from me!" Verily, O my God, the lamps of guidance are extinguished; the fire of animosity is enkindled; wrath and antipathy are spread abroad and provocation and maliciousness are disseminated upon the face of the earth. Yet I see only Thy wronged followers who are crying at the tops of their voices and summoning the people:
Hasten ye toward affinity!
Hasten ye toward faithfulness!
Hasten ye toward generosity!
Hasten ye toward guidance!
Hasten ye toward union!
Hasten ye to behold the Light of the World!
Hasten ye toward love and prosperity!
Hasten ye toward peace and reconciliation!
Hasten ye toward the law of disarmament!
Hasten ye toward harmony and success!
Hasten ye toward co-operation and mutual help in the path of guidance!
Verily, these wronged ones do sacrifice themselves with infinite joy and happiness for the sake of the people, with all their souls and spirits throughout all regions. Verily, Thou beholdest them weeping at the misfortunes of every one of Thy creatures and becoming grieved at the distress of Thy children; they are kind to all the people and pained at the sight of the calamities of the inhabitants of the world. O my Lord! make the wings of prosperity to grow upon their shoulders, so that they may ever soar toward the apex of their aspirations; strengthen their loins in the service of Thy people, and confirm them in the thralldom and adoration of the threshold of Thy Holiness.
Verily, Thou art the Merciful! Thou art the Clement, and there is no God but Thee, the Powerful, the Compassionate, and the Ancient!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
| The Book of Ighan (Certainty). | |
190 pages, bound in cloth | $1.00 |
| Postage 10c additional. | |
| The Tarazat and other Tablets. | |
92 pages bound in paper | $ .50 |
| Surat-ul-Hykl. | |
| (The discourse on the Temple.) | |
63 pages, bound in paper | $ .25 |
| The Tablet of Ishrakat. | |
45 pages, bound in paper | $ .25 |
| The Seven Valleys. | |
56 pages, bound in paper | $ .25 |
Same bound in leather, gilt edges | 1.00 |
| The Hidden Words. | |
102 pages, bound in paper | $ .15 |
Same bound in leather, gilt edges | 1.00 |
| Some Answered Questions. | |
| By Laura Clifford Barney. | |
356 pages, bound in cloth | $1.50 |
| Postage 15c additional. | |
| Tablets of Abdul-Baha—Vol. 1. | |
238 pages, bound in cloth | $1.00 |
| Postage 15c additional. | |
| Abdul-Baha's Addresses in Paris. | |
Bound in paper | $ .75 |
| Postage 5c additional. | |
| Abdul-Baha's Addresses in London. | |
Bound in paper | $ .40 |
| Postage 5c additional. | |
| School of the Prophets. | |
| By Mirza Assad'ullah. | |
190 pages, bound in cloth | $1.25 |
| Postage 10c additional. | |
| The Universal Religion. | |
| By M. Hippolyte Dreyfus. | |
175 pages, bound in paper | $1.00 |
| Postage 10c additional. | |
| The Bahai Revelation. | |
| By Thornton Chase. | |
187 pages, bound in paper | $ .50 |
| Postage 10c additional. | |
| The Bahai Movement. | |
| By Chas. Mason Remey. | |
Bound in paper | $ .50 |
| Postage 10c additional. | |
| A Year with the Bahais of India and Burma. | |
| By Sydney Sprague. | |
53 pages, bound in paper | $ .25 |
| The Brilliant Proof. | |
| By Mirza Abul Fazl Gulpaygan. | |
Bound in paper | $ .15 |
| Dawn of Knowledge and the Most Great Peace. | |
| By Paul Kingston Dealy. | |
48 pages, bound in paper | $ .15 |
| The Revelation of Baha'o'llah. | |
| By Mrs. Isabel D. Brittingham. | |
32 pages, bound in paper | $ .10 |
| Martyrdoms in Persia in 1903. | |
| By Hadji Mirza Hayder Ali. | |
32 pages, bound in paper | $ .10 |
| Story of the Bahai Movement. | |
| By Sydney Sprague. | |
20 pages, bound in paper | $ .05 |
| The Oriental Rose. | |
| By Mary Hanford Ford. | |
Bound in cloth | $ .60 |
| In Galilee. | |
| By Thornton Chase. | |
84 pages, bound in paper, illustrated | $ .25 |
| Ten Days in the Light of Acca. | |
| By Mrs. Julia M. Grundy. | |
111 pages, bound in paper | $ .25 |
| Daily Lessons Received at Acca. | |
| By Mrs. Goodall and Mrs. Cooper. | |
80 pages, bound in paper | $ .20 |
| My Visit to Abbas Effendi (Abdul-Baha) in 1899. | |
| By Mrs. Margaret B. Peeke. | |
Bound in paper | $ .15 |
| Unity Through Love. | |
| By Howard MacNutt. | |
32 pages, bound in paper | $ .10 |
| Table Talks with Abdul-Baha. | |
| By Mr. and Mrs. George T. Winterburn. | |
32 pages, bound in paper | $ .10 |
| My Visit to Acca. | |
| By Mrs. Mary L. Lucas. | |
42 pages, bound in paper | $ .10 |
| Flowers from the Rose Garden of Acca. | |
| By Mrs. Finch and Misses Knobloch. | |
40 pages, bound in paper | $ .10 |
| Portfolio of Views of The Holy Land. | |
| In the vicinity of Mt. Carmel and Acca. | |
18 colored sheets, heavy paper cover | $1.00 |
With portrait of Abdul-Baha, cloth cover | 1.25 |
| Songs of Prayer and Praise. | |
| A compilation of hymns, including the best known Bahai compositions of Mrs. Louise R. Waite, for use in Assembly meetings. | |
Strongly bound | $ .10 |
Address all Orders to
MISS MARY LESCH, 5205 Jefferson Avenue | CHICAGO |
نجم باختر جلد 4 . شماره 1
نجم باختر 1329
شیکاغو امریکا . شماره اوّل . ربیع الثّانی سنه 1331
فهرست مندرجات
لوح مبارک از برای جریدۀ نجم باختر.
تهنیت عید نوروز .
سال چهارم نجم باختر .
موعود کلّ ملل و ادیان .
بقیّه تاریخ حیات جناب بدیع .
احتجاب ملل از مظاهر امرالله .
بشارات از پاریس .
آدرس نجم باختر . : صندوق پستی 283 ، شیکاگو . ایلینوی . ایالات متّحدۀ امریکا
Address: Najme Bakhtar, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
[Page 24]
PAGE 1
VOL. IV
No 1
نجم باختر 1329
جلد چهارم شماره 1 قیمت اشتراک : سالی دوازده قران
مارچ 21 ماه بهاء سنه 70
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 مفید که موافق سبک اداره است قبول و نشر خواهد گردید .
صفحه 1 - 1
لوح مبارک
که برای این جریده از قلم اعلی نازل شده بود : هوالله ای نجم باختر :
شاد باش و شادباش که اگر ثبات و دوام بنمائی اختر خاور نیز گردی و منتشر در هر کشور شوی اوّل روزنامه بهائیانی که در قطعۀ امریک تأسیس شد هرچند حال طالبان قلیل و حجمت صغیر و صوتت ضعیف ولی اگر استقامت کنی و منظور نظر یاران گردی و مشمول همتّ بزرگواران ثابتان بر پیمان در مستقبل طالبان فوج فوج موج زنند و حجمت متزاید و میدانت واسع و صوت وصیتت مرتفع و جهانگیر گردد و عاقبت اوّل جریده عالم گردی ولی شرط استقامت است استقامت است استقامت ع ع .
عید نوروز
در این یوم میمنت مسعود و عید مبارک از صمیم فؤاد بهائیان را خصوصا و اهل شرق را عموما تبریک و تهنیت می گوئیم . نجم باختر
صفحه 2 - 1
سال چهارم
الحمدلله که نجم باختر سال سوّم را پیموده و از این روز قدم در سال چهارم میگذارد . نهایت آمال اعضاء نجم باختر همانا جانفشانی در طریق احبّای الهی و انتشار اخبارات بهائی و ترویج اصول جان پرور این دین عمومی تا به درجۀ رسد که سبب ارتباط شرق و غرب گردد .
موعود کلّ ملل و ادیان
خطابۀ حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئلۀ « موعود کلّ ملل و ادیان » در بیت مبارک در شهر نیویورک شب جمعه پنجم ماه جولای ساعت هشت در حضور جمعی از یار و اغیار فرمودند :
بسیار بسیار خوش آمدید : در جمیع کتب مقدّسۀ الهیّه بشاراتی است که بشارت میدهد روزی خواهد آمد که موعود جمیع کتب ظاهر خواهد شد و یک قرن نورانی تشکیل خواهد کرد علم صلح و سلام بلند خواهد شد وحدت عالم انسانی
صفحه 1 - 2
اعلان خواهد گردید در میان اقوام و امم بغض و عداوت نماند جمیع قلوب ارتباط بیکدیگر نماید در تورات مذکور است در انجیل مذکور است در قرآن مذکور است در کتاب بودا مذکور است در زند اوستا مذکور است خلاصه در جمیع این کتب مذکور است که بعد از آنکه تاریکی عالم را احاطه نمود آن روشنائی طلوع نماید نظیر آن است چون شب خیلی تاریک شود دلیل ظهور روز است و همچنین هر وقت که ظلمت ضلالت عالم را احاطه کند و نفوس بشر از خدا غافل شوند و مادیّات به روحانیّات غلبه نماید جمیع ملل مانند حیوان غرق در عالم طبیعت گردند و از عالم حقّ بیخبر و خدا را فراموش نمایند زیرا حیوانات جز از محسوسات ندانند و قوای روحانیّه اعتقاد ندارند و بکلیّ از خدا و انبیا بی خبر و بیزارند و طبیعی و فیلسوف مادّی هستند ولی انسان باید سالها زحمت بکشد و در مدارس تحصیل علم نماید تا مادّی و طبیعی گردد امّا گاو بدون این زحمات رئیس فلاسفۀ مادیّون است در همچو وقتی آن آفتاب طلوع خواهد نمود و آن صبح نورانی ظاهر خواهد شد! ملاحظه نمائید امروز بکلیّ مادیّات به روحانیّات غلبه نموده در بین بشر ابدا احساسات روحانیّه نمانده مدنیّت الهیّه نمانده هدایت الله نمانده معرفت الله نمانده جمیع غرق در بحر مادّه هستند اگر چنانچه جمعی به کنائس و یا به معابد میروند عبادت می کنند این بجهت تقالید آباء و اجداد است نه اینست که تحرّی حقیقت کرده اند و حقیقت را یافتند و حقیقت را میپرستند از آباء و اجداد از برای آنها تقالیدی میراث مانده و بآن تقالید متشبّت شده و عادت کرده اند که بعضی اوقات به معابد بروند و آن
صفحه 2 - 2
تقالید را مجری دارند و برهان بر اینکه پسر هر یهودی یهودی است پسر هر مسیحی مسیحی است پسر هر مسلمی مسلم میشود پسر هر زردشتی زردشتی میشود پس این مذهب از آباء و اجداد میراث از برای او آمده است و تقلید آباء و اجداد مینماید بجهت اینکه پدرش یهودی بوده او هم یهودی شده نه اینکه تحرّی حقیقت کرده وبه تحققّ رسانیده که دین یهودی حقّ است و متابعت آنرا کرده بلکه دید که پدر و آباء و اجداد بر این مسلک بوده او هم این مسلک را پیش گرفته است مقصداین است که ظلمت تقالید عالم را احاطه کرده متابعت تقالید طریق الهی را گم نموده نور حقیقت مخفی مانده اگر این امم مختلفه تحرّی حقیقت کنند لابد بر این است که بر حقیقت پی برند و چون حقیقت را یافتند جمیع ملل یک ملتّ گردند امّا مادام متمسّک به تقالیدند و از حقیقت محروم و این تقالید مختلف است لهذا نزاع و جدال در میان است بغض و عداوت بین ملل شدید است امّا اگر تحرّی حقیقت بکنند ابدا عداوت ، بغضی نماند ، جنگ و جدالی نماند ، با یکدیگر نهایت التیام را حاصل کنند . در ایّامی که در شرق ظلمت ضلالت در نهایت قوّت بود و غرق در تقالید به درجه ئی که این ملل شرق تشنۀ خون یکدیگر بودند یکدیگر را نجس میشمردند و ابدا با یکدیگر ملاقات نمیکردند در همچو وقتی حضرت بهاء الله در شرق ظاهر شد و بنیان تقالید را برانداخت نور حقیقت سطوع کرد ملل مختلفه که متابعت نمودند متّحد شدند چون تحرّی و پرستش حقیقت کردند متّفق گشتند
جمیع بشر بندگان الهی هستند و همه از سلالۀ آدمند و همه از یک خاندان و جمیع اینها اساسشان یک
صفحه 1 - 3
اساس و چون تعالیم انبیاء حقیقت است لهذا یکی است و نزاع و جدال بین ملل از جهت تقالید است ولی امروز در ایران قلوب با همدیگر متحدّ گردیده جانها با یکدیگر التیام یافته بغض و عداوت شدیده به محبّت و مودّت تغییر نموده کلّ به محبّت عظیم قیام کردند مسیحی، یهودی،زردشتی ، مسلمان ، بودائی همه اینها از تعالیم بهاء الله به حقیقت رسیدند در نهایت محبّت و الفت با یکدیگر امتزاج یافتند انبیاء الهی با یکدیگر در نهایت محبّت هستند هر سلفی بشارت از خلف داده و هر خلفی تصدیق سلف نموده اینها در نهایت اتّحادند ولی ملتّشان در نهایت اختلاف مثلا موسی خبر از مسیح داد و بشارت از ظهور مسیح داد و مسیح تصدیق نبوّت موسی را کرد پس در میان مسیح و موسی اختلاف نیست نهایت ارتباط است لیکن میانۀ یهودی و مسیحی نزاع است ولی اگر تحرّی حقیقت نمایند چون حقیقت یکی است تعدّد ندارد بکلیّ با یکدیگر مهربان می شوند و در نهایت محبّت الفت میجویند و جمیع تصدیق انبیاء می کنند و جمیع تصدیق جمع کتب می نمایند این نزاع و جدال نمی ماند همه ماها یکی می شویم با یکدیگر در نهایت الفت و محبّت زندگی می کنیم همه پدر و پسر می شویم همه برادر و خواهر می شویم در نهایت محبّت در نهایت الفت با یکدیگر معاشرت می نمائیم !
این قرن قرن نورانی است نسبتی به قرون سالفه ندارد ظلمت در آن قرون شدید بود حالا عقول ترقیّ نموده ادراکات زیاد شده عالم بشر در حرکت است هرکس تحرّی حقیقت می کند دیگر زمانی نیست که با یکدیگر نزاع کنیم وقت آن نیست که از یکدیگر کره داشته باشیم در زمانی هستیم که باید در نهایت
صفحه 2 - 3
محبّت و الفت باشیم .
حضرت بهاء الله به جمیع اقالیم عالم رسائل فرستاد و به جمیع ملوک الواح فرستاد حتّی به رئیس جمهور امریکا پنجاه سال پیش در وقتی که هیچ ذکری از صلح عمومی نبود در آن رسائل جمیع را به صلح عمومی دعوت نمود و جمیع را به وحدت عالم انسانی خواند و جمیع را به اصول انبیاء الهی دعوت نمود بعضی از ملوک اروپا استکبار کردند از جمله ناپلیون ثالث بعد رسالۀ ثانی باو نوشتند مضمون این است و آن رساله در سنۀ شصت و نه صادر گشت و طبع شده که : ای ناپلیون تو بسیار مغرور شدی متکبّر شدی خداوند را فراموش کردی گمان میکنی که این عزّت از برای تو باقی می ماند این دولت از برای تو باقی می ماند من نامۀ که از برای تو فرستادم باید آنرا در کمال محبّت قبول کنی بلکه تو استکبار کردی لهذا خدا انتقام شدید خواهد کشید سلطنت تو را بر می اندازد مملکت از دست تو بیرون میرود و در نهایت ذلتّ می افتی زیرا آنچه که به تو تکلیف شد به آن قیام ننمودی و حال آنکه آنچه به تو تکلیف گردید آن سبب حیات عالم است منتظر باش نقمت الهی را و این رساله در سنه 1869 صادر شد و بعد از یک سال این بود که بنیان سلطنت او بکلیّ برداشته شد .
از جمله رساله ایست بسیار مفصّل که به پادشاه ایران نوشته شده و مطبوع است و در جمیع ممالک عالم منتشر و آن رساله نیز در سنه 1869 صادر شد در این رساله پادشاه ایران را نصیحت می کند به عدالت امر می کند به اینکه با جمیع ملل از رعایای خود مهربان باش امتیازی بین ادیان نگذار با مسیحی با مسلمان با یهودی
صفحه 1 - 4
با زردشتی با جمیع یکسان معامله کن و این تعدیّات که در مملکت است ازاله نما زیرا این خلق جمیع بندگان خدا هستند در نظر حکومت باید جمیع یکسان باشند حکومت باید به جمیع مهربان باشد و اگر چنانچه عدالت ننمودی و این ظلمها را ازاله نکردی و موافق رضای خداوند حرکت نکردی بنیان سلطنت متزلزل شود و همچنین میفرماید که تو باید علما را جمع کنی و مرا بخواهی من حاضر شوم من اقامۀ حجّت و براهین میکنم و بر جمیع حجّتم را ظاهر می نمایم این بود که اعتنائی نکرد جواب رسالۀ جمال مبارک را نداد بعد خدا بنیاد سلطنت او را برانداخت و خود او کشته شد !
از جمله به عبدالعزیز پادشاه عثمانیان رسالۀ مرقوم شد در این رساله تهدید فرمودند که تو مرا به سجن فرستادی مسجون نمودی گمان میکنی که سجن از برای من ضرر دارد یا اینکه سجن از برای من ذلتّ است ؟ این سجن از برای من عزّت است ! زیرا در سبیل الهی است من جرمی نکرده ام که در حبس بمانم در راه خدا این بلایا و رزایا وارد لهذا من نهایت سرور را دارم بی نهایت خوشنودم ولکن تو منتظر باش خدا از تو انتقام می کند و عنقریب ملاحظه می کنی که بلا مثل باران بر تو میبارد و معدوم خواهی شد و همین طور شد باین عظمت حضرت بهاء الله به جمیع سلاطین عالم رسائل شتّی فرستاد و جمیع را به محبّت و الفت دعوت نمود جمیع را به صلح عمومی دعوت کرد جمیع را به وحدت عالم انسانی دعوت نمود جمیع را به اتّحاد و اتّفاق دعوت کرد تا کلّ متحدّ و متفقّ گردند و این جنگ و جدال نماند این حرب و قتال نماند این عداوتها و بغضها
صفحه 2 - 4
نماند کلّ متّحد و متّفق شویم و به عبودیّت پروردگار قیام نمائیم و در طریق او جانفشانی کنیم .
باری دو پادشاه بر مقاومت حضرت بهاء الله برخواستند یکی ناصرالدّین شاه یکی عبدالحمید و حضرت بهاء الله را در قلعۀ عکّا حبس کردند تا شمع او را خواموش کنند و امر او را معدوم نمایند لکن حضرت بهاء الله در حبس نامه های شدید مرقوم فرمود که این حبس سبب می شود که امر من بلند گردد این حبس سبب می شود که تعالیم من انتشار یابد و من ضرری حاصل نخواهم کرد زیرا من جانم را فدا کردم دولتم را فدا کردم مالم را فدا کردم آنچه داشتم فدا کردم از برای من این سجن ضرری ندارد و همین طور که فرمود در سجن علم خود را بلند فرموده و آوازۀ امرش به شرق و غرب رسید حتّی به امریکا رسید حالا در جمیع قطعات عالم امر بهاء الله منتشر است اگر به آسیا سفر کنید به هرجا بروید می بینید در انتشار است در افریقا در انتشار است در اروپا در انتشار است لکن در امریکا بدایت امر است و حال در جمیع آفاق منتشر این دو پاشاه ابدا نتوانستند که مقاومت او نمایند ولکن خدا این دو پادشاه را به کلیّ برانداخت ناصرالدّین شاه کشته شد و عبدالحمید در حبس افتاد . امّا من عبدالبهاء چهل سال در حبس بودم خدا زنجیر را از گردن من برداشت و بر گردن عبدالحمید گذارد و این در یک دفعه چون کمیته اتّحاد و ترقیّ اعلان حریّت کردند من را آزاد نمودند و زنجیر را از گردن من برداشتند و برگردن
صفحه 1 - 5
عبدالحمید گذاردند همان کاری را که او با من کرد به سر او آوردند الآن در نهایت مذلتّ در حبس است مثل آنکه من حبس بودم ولی من در حبس مسرور بودم نهایت انشراح قلب را داشتم زیرا من مجرم نبودم بجهت سبیل الهی حبس را قبول نموده بودم هر وقت در خاطرم می آمد که من برای خدا حبس شده ام نهایت سرور را پیدا میکردم ولی عبدالحمید به نکبت اعمال خود گرفتار به سبب گناه در حبس افتاد هرساعت می میرد و زنده می شود در نهایت حزن در یأس است امّا من در نهایت امیدواری بودم مسرور بودم که الحمدلله در سبیل الهی محبوسم حیاتم هدر نمیرود هرکس مرا میدید ابدا گمان نمیکرد که من محبوسم در نهایت سرور در نهایت تشکرّ در نهایت صحّت بودم ابدا اعتنائی باین حبس نداشتم .
جناب بدیع
تتمّۀ تاریخ حیات جناب بدیع شهید که در شمارۀ دوم جلد سوم با عکس مبارکشان درج شده بود :
اظهار داشت در من تجسّس نمائید و به بینید که غیر از این لائحه با خود هیچ چیز ندارم بعد از تفتیش او را در سراپردۀ سلطان بردند و با کمال ادب بمجرّد رسیدن با صوتی ملیح و فصیح باین کلمۀ علیا گویا میگردد « یا سلطان قد حبتئک من سباء بنباء عظیم » همان ساعت باخذ لوح و حبس
صفحه 2 - 5
آورند امر گردید که استنطاق نمایند تا بهائیان طهران و رفقای سایر بلاد ایران را بگیرند در زیر زنجیر او را بی اندازه شکنجه و آزار نمودند که یاران را بروز دهد و از نقمت سیاست خلاصی یابد پیوسته صبر و شکیبائی اختیار و برای ثبوت مدّعای خود استقامت ورزید و چون یکباره جانش شیفتۀ حضرت جانان بود هرگونه زجر را تحمّل نمود پس از شکنجه های بسیار و صدمات بیشمار قرار شد که آن شهید مظلوم را داغ نمایند آتش زیادی افروخته آهن نیافتند یکی از سپاهیان شمشیر خود را از غلاف کشیده در آتش گذارد و در این مقام هویّت را ظاهر و ندای صدق مولائی از آن گشته در راه معشوق بلند گردید هنوز سپاهیان در تفحصّ گیر و آلات برداشتن آهن از آتش بودند که خودش با نهایت وجد و سرور داغی را گرفته و بر سینۀ بی کینۀ خود گذارد و فرمود « صادق است مولای من که فرمود با شمشیر تو را داغ خواهند کرد » دود زیادی از سوختن آن بدن مطهّر بلند و بوی گوشت سوخته چادر را احاطه کرد یکی از سربازان معاصر به آن زمان که حضور داشته گفت با جمعی رفیقان خود در همان خیمه بودیم و تمام را به رأی العین دیدیم از تعفنّ درد و سوختن فرار کردیم چند دقیقۀ بعد به چادر آمده ملاحظه کردیم او با کمال ثبات در نهایت التهاب مشغول مناجات است و جمیع ناظرین انگشتان تحیّر بر دندان گرفته بودند این ثبوت و رسوخ که به عرض شهریاری میرسد امر مینماید بهمان حال عکس برداشته حقیقة از کثرت شور و انجذاب او نزدیک بود که کلیّة بر هم خورده کلّ مجذوب گردند
صفحه 1 - 6
زیرا که عموم حالشان دیگرگون و از بیانات روح پرور آن رعناجوان مفتون شده بودند این خبر به شاه رسید که عنقریب هیئت دربار پادشاهی را منجذب خواهند کرد فوری فرمان قتل صادر و آن جوانمرد سراپاغیرت راکه زخود خالی و از دست پر بود در قتلگاه حاضر نمودند و بهمان حال که فرّاشان غضب از چپ و راست صف آراسته بودند باز عکس برداشتند بعد از شهادت با سعادت او سلطان آن کلام مبین را مطالعه نموده همینکه بر مضمون مطلعّ می شوند سه مرتبه میگویند تاکنون قاصد را نگشته و اظهار تأسفّ و ندامت می نماید که صاحبمنصبان زیاد تعجّبی نموده و بی جهة زجرهای شدید در بارۀ او اعمال داشته اند لوح مبارک را به ملاعلی کنی که اعلم علماء آن عصر بوده و سایر فقهاء گرام دادند که جوابی بنویسند آنان چون بر فرمایشات و مضامین مطویّه مخبر شدند عنوان نمودند که این شخص مخالف دین و آئین و جواب او شمشیر است . این جواب در پیشگاه سلطنت پناهی مقبول نیفتاد .
هر شخص منصفی انصاف در شهادت خواهد داد که این امر خارج از قوّه و عادت انسانی بل تأییدات آسمانی بوده و هرکس لوح سلطان ایران را از روی تحقیق ملاحظه و تفکرّ نماید البّته بر حقیقت ایمان و ایقان فائز خواهد شد عین آن خطابۀ مبارکه هم فعلا با تذهیب و تزیین قاب گرفته در مقامات عالیّه موجود است این نکته هم البّته در نزد عقلا و ارباب بصیرت مکشوف و مشهود بود که در سعادت این توع اجساد طیّبه القاب شامخه و ارحام مطهرّه بسیار و خیلی است
صفحه 2 - 6
چنانکه در ایتان برهان حال جناب حاج عبدالمجید پدر بزرگوار همین جوان بنیۀ تبیان است که پس از این واقعه مشرّف بحضور مبارک شده تمنّای شهادت مینماید شال پوش خود را مرحمت و به استجابت وعده میفرمایند ایشان به خراسان آمده جماعت مقدّسین آنرا به شیخ باقر اصفهانی که او را « ذئب » نام فرموده اند معرّفی مینماید ( این شخص در آن اوقات به عنوان زیارت حضرت رضا آمده بود ) بحکم او دستگیرش نموده محبوس میسازند بعد از مدّتی مدید که در حبس بوده چون متوّلی باشی و حکومت خراسان نظر باینکه مستأجر املاک آستانه است راضی به قتل ایشان نبوده اند چند مرتبه او را در خلوت خواسته میگویند در محضر شیخ حاضر میشوید ظاهرا بگوئید از این طایفه نیستم فوری میگوئیم شما را ببرند و در دل هرچه میخواهی باش . در جواب میگویند استغفرالله سالهای متمادی مشتاق به شهید شدن بوده حال برای چهار روزۀ دنیا از آئین بهائی دست بردارم ! مختصرا پس از ورود به نزد شیخ بمجرّد سئوال میگویند بلی جان نثار این طایفه هستم حکم بر قتلشان صادر میگردد جناب حاجی شال پوش عنایتی را از خانۀ خود خواسته میپوشند و به میدان جان بازی در مقام حضرت باقی حاضر میگردند در حال اشتعال به تلاوت مناجات در مشهد حضرت رضا علیه آلاف التحیّة و الثّناء که مأمن امن و امان است بدرجۀ شهادت بنوشید بعد از کشته شدن هم جنازه را سنگباران کردند باین قسم یکان و خاصّان در راه جانان دست از هستی جان برداشته اند فاعتبروا یا اولی الأبصار
صفحه 1 - 7
نجم باختر از وقایع نگار اداره جناب آقا محمّد تقی ناظم خراسانی خادم عهد الله در بندر جز بسیار ممنون و متشکرّ است که این مقالۀ تاریخیّه مؤثرّه را بما فرستاده اند و امیدواریم که باز همچنین مقالات مفید ارسال دارند .
احتجاب ملل از مظاهر امرالله
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله « احتجاب ملل از مظاهر امرالله » در بیت مبارک در شهر نیویورک امریکا روز چهار شنبه 11 جولای سنه 1912 ساعت 9 بعد از ظهر در حضور جمعی از محترمین فرمودند :
امشب میخواهم از برای شما سبب احتجاب ناس را از مظاهر مقدّسه الهی بیان کنم این مسلمّ است که در جمیع عهدها مردم منتظر موعود بودند مثلا در زمان مسیح یهود منتظر ظهور مسیح بودند و شب و روز در معبد دعا مینمودند که خدایا ظهور مسیح را نزدیک کن تا از انوار او استفاضه کنیم و بآنچه سبب سعادت ابدی است برسیم بسا شبها در قدس الاقداس گریه میکردند و تا صبح جزغ و فزع مینمودند که خدایا مسیح را بفرست امّا وقتی که مسیح ظاهر شد جمیع اعتراض کردند جمیع انکار نمودند بلکه تکفیر کردند و عاقبت به صلیب زدند سبب چه بود ؟ اسباب بسیار بود امّا سبب بسیار قوی دو سبب بود که این دو سبب همیشه سبب احتجاب ناس بوده و سبب محرومی کلّ گردیده است .
سبب اوّل آنکه شخص موعود را در کتاب مقدّس شروطی مذکور که آن شروط کلام رمزی است
صفحه 2 - 7
نه مفهوم لفظی و چون بحسب مفهوم لفظی گرفتند لهذا اعراض و استکبار میکردند می گفتند این موعود آن موعود نیست چنانکه یهود عبارات را گرفته حین ظهور حضرت مسیح علماء یهود گفتند این مسیح آن مسیح نیست این آن موعود نیست بلکه نسبت های دیگر دادند که زبان حیا کند . . و تمسّک به شروط ظهور مسیح در کتاب مقدّس تورات نمودند شرط اوّل : اینکه در کتاب مقدّس منصوص است که مسیح از مکان غیرمعلوم می آید این شخص از ناصره آمده ما او ر می شناسیم .
شرط ثانی : آنکه عصایش از آهن است یعنی به شمشیر شبانی میکند و این مسیح شمشیر که سهل است عصای چوبی هم ندارد .
شرط ثالث : آنکه بموجب کتاب مقدّس حضرت موعود باید بر سریر داود نشیند و تأسیس سلطنت بکند این مسیح نه سلطنتی نه لشگری نه مملکتی نه وزرائی نه وکلائی فرید و وحید است لهذا این مسیح آن مسیح موعود نیست .
شرط رابع : آنکه مسیح شریعت تورات را ترویج کند و این مسیح سبت را بهم شکست شریعت تورات را نسخ نمود چگونه این مسیح آن مسیح است ؟
شرط خامس : آنکه باید شرق و غرب را فتح کند این مسیح یک لانه و آشیانه ندارد چگونه این مسیح آن مسیح است ؟
شرط سادس : انکه باید حیوانات نیز در زمان مسیح در نهایت
صفحه 1 - 8
راحت و آسایش باشند و عدالت به درجۀ رسد که حیوانی نتواند به حیوان دیگر تعدّی کند گرگ و میش با هم از یک چشمه آب بنوشند باز و کبک در یک لانه آشیانه کنند شیر و آهو در یک چراگاه بچرند حالا در زمان این مسیح ظلم و عدوان به درجه ای است که حکومت رومان در فلسطین غلبه کرده یهود را میکشد میزند نفی میکند حبس مینماید ظلم و عدوان بی پایانست حتّی خود مسیح را به فتوای علمای یهود به صلیب زدند چگونه این مسیح آن مسیح است ؟
این بود سبب احتجاب ملتّ یهود از ایمان به مسیح و حال آنکه جمیع این ظاهر شد جمیع این آثار باهر شد ولکن کلامی رمزی بود علماء یهود نفهمیدند گمان کردند که این شروط بحسب ظاهر و مفهوم لفظی است و حال آنکه جمیع رموز بود .
اوّلا : اینکه از مقامی غیر معلوم می آید روح مسیح از مقام غیر معلوم آمد نه جسمش هرچند جسمش از ناصره بود امّا روح مسیح نه از ناصره نه از حیفا آمد نه از شرق و نه از غرب بود روح مسیح از عالم الهی بود از مقامی غیر معلوم بود امّا علمای یهود نفهمیدند .
ثانیا : اینکه عصای او از آهن بود عصا آلت شبانی است آلت شبانی حضرت مسیح لسان مبارک بود لسان مبارک سیف قاطع بود فصل بین حقّ و باطل میکرد .
ثالثا : اینکه بر سریر داود به نشیند و سلطنت نماید حضرت مسیح سلطنتش سلطنت ابدی بود نه
صفحه 2 - 8
سلطنت ناپلیون نه سلطنت چنگیز خان نه سلطنت هانیبال سلطنت مسیح سلطنت روحانی بود سلطنت ابدی بود سلطنت وجدانی بود ممالک او قلوب بود در قلوب سلطنت میکرد نه در خاک و الی الابد سلطنتش باقی است و نهایت ندارد .
رابعا : اینکه ترویج تورات مینماید یعنی اساسی را که حضرت موسی گذاشته است آنرا از تقالید خلاص میکند آن حقیقت را ترویج میکند هیچ شبهه نیست که حضرت مسیح اساس موسی را ترویج کرد از جمله وصایای عشره را ترویج کرد حقیقت شریعت موسی را ترویج کرد امّا بعضی امور که موافق عصر موسی بود و در زمان مسیح موافق نبود از زوائد بود یا از تقالید تلمودیّه بود آنها را نسخ کرد اساس اصلی را مجری داشت و ترویج فرمود .
خامسا : اینکه شرق و غرب را فتح میکند چون حضرت مسیح کلمة الله بود به قوّۀ الهی شرق و غرب را فتح کرد و فتوحاتش الی الآن باقی و برقرار نهایت ندارد .
سادسا : اینکه در ایّام ظهورش گرگ و میش از یک چشمه آب میخورند مقصد از این آن است که نفوسی که مانند گرگ و میشند آنها به حضرت مسیح مؤمن می شوند و جمیع آنها از چشمۀ انجیل می نوشند مثلا یک شرقی و یک غربی که مناسبتی مابین آنها نبوده معاشرتی با هم نداشته اند و از هر جهت مخالف بودند و بمنزلۀ گرگ و میش بودند
صفحه 1 - 9
و اجتماع اینها ممکن نبود چون مؤمن به حضرت مسیح شدند جمیع بر چشمۀ واحد جمع شدند اینها کلمات رمزی بود چون علماء یهود نفهمیدند و به حقیقت معانی پی نبردند و به صورت ظاهر نگاه کردند و مطابق ندیدند این بود که انکار کردند و اعتراض نمودند .
سبب ثانی . مانع ثاانی این است که در مظاهر مقدّسۀ الهیّه دو مقام است یک مقام بشر است و دیگری مقام رحمانی نورانی مقام ظهور و تجلیّ ربّانی مستور است و مقام بشریّت ظاهر خلق آن حقیقت مقدّسه ظاهر در هیکل نمی بینند قوّۀ روح القدس را نمی بینند نظر به بشریّت می کنند و چون می بینند در مقام بشریّت مشترک با سائر بشرند نظیر سائرین میخورند میخوابند مریض می شوند ناتوان می گردند لهذا قیاس بنفس خود نموده میگویند اینها مثل ماها هستند امتیازی ندارند چرا اینها مظاهر مقدّسه باشند و ما نباشیم چرا اینها ممتاز از ماها باشند چرا اینها آسمانی باشند و ما زمینی چرا آنها نورانی باشند و ماظلمانی و حال آنکه در جمیع شئون بشری مثل آنها هستیم ابدا فرق و امتیازی در میان نیست و امتیازی حصوصی از ما ندارند ما فرقی نمی بینیم اینها مثل ما هستند لهذا انکار و استکبار مینمودند مثل ابلیس که نظر به جسم آدم کرد گفت من اشرف از آدم هستم ولی نظر بروح آدم نکرد روح آدم را ندید و چون جسم آدم از تراب بود آنرا دید روح او را ندید استکبار کرد والا سجده میکرد .
صفحه 2 - 9
حال در یوم ظهور مظاهر الهی چون مردم نظر به بشریّت آنها مینمایند و مانند خودشان می بینند اعتراض مینمایند تعدّی میکنند ظلم و مخالفت مینمایند و بر قتل آنها قیام می کنند پس شما باید نظر به بشریّت مظاهر مقدّسه الهیّه نکنید باید نظر به حقیقت آنها بکنید آن حقیقت ساطعه که آفاق را روشن می کند آن حقیقت ساطعه که عالم بشر را نورانی مینماید آن حقیقت ساطعه که نفوس را از نقائص خلاص مینماید آن حقیقت ساطعه که هیئت جامعه را به اعلا درجۀ کمال میرساند مافوق تصوّرات بشری است ما باید نطر به زجاج نکنیم زیرا چون نظر به زجاج کنیم چون بلور است از انوار محروم مانیم باید نظر به سراج نمائیم یعنی آن سراجی که در این زجاج می تابد و آن فیض و تجلیّ حضرت الوهیّت است که در زجاج بشریّت ظاهر و هویداست و چون چنین کنیم محتجب نمانیم .
بشارات از پاریس
اعظم ترین خبر خوش صحّت مزاج مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء و انتشار امر مبارک در شهر پاریس است نفوس روزبروز منجذب جمال حقیقت میگردند و بیش از پیش طالب تعالیم الهی می شوند در مجامع روحانیّون و محافل علیا خطابه های عظیم در صلح عمومی و اخوّت بین شرق و غرب اداء فرمودند جمعی کثیر حاضر بودند و سبب اشتعال قلوب گردید
