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Vol. IV
Chicago, September 8, 1913
No. 10
| PAGE | |
Tablet Revealed by Abdul-Baha regarding "The Orb of The Covenant" | 170 |
The Power of "The Covenant of God" Alone Regenerates Mankind—By Charles Mason Remey | 171 |
The Mashrak-el-Azkar | 177 |
Letter from Constantinople | 178 |
Persian Section | 179-184 |
Tablet revealed by Abdul-Baha and spread throughout America many years ago.
HE IS GOD!O thou whom my heart addresses!
Know thou, verily, THE COVENANT is an Orb which shines and gleams forth unto the universe. Verily, its light will dispel darkness, its sea will cast out the thick froth of suspicions upon the shore of perdition. Verily, naught in the world can ever resist the Power of the Kingdom. Should all mankind assemble, could they prevent the sun from its light, the winds from their blowing, the clouds from their showers, the mountains from their firmness or the stars from their beaming? No! By thy Lord, the Clement! Everything (in the world) is subject to corruption; but THE COVENANT of thy Lord shall continue to pervade all regions.
Address thou the waverers and say: "Have ye forgotten that which transpired in the time of Christ? Are ye not informed of the events which took place in His blessed Day? Did not the Pharisees rise against Him? Did they not give verdict to the shedding of His blood, to the murder of His friends and to oppressing His chosen ones? Have ye not heard concerning the heretics, the violators of His COVENANT (who appeared) after Him? Are ye not informed of those kings, princes, learned and prominent men who persecuted Him? Did ye not see what has been the end of the persecutors?"
And do thou advise them and illumine their inmost part, and say unto them: "By GOD, the True One! Verily, Abdul-Baha is assisted by the Beauty of EL-ABHA who helps him with a Power whereunto all the heads are made humble. You shall surely find the banner of hypocrisy reversed, the foundations of discord demolished and the Standards of Peace and Harmony waving throughout all regions!"
O my friend! Verily, Bahá hath commanded me to be forbearing and patient, to conceal (their doings), to forgive and pardon. Otherwise, I would have rent their covering, disclosed their sins, divulged their deeds, depicted their character and unveiled their manners. Verily, thou art already informed of some of their deeds and it is sufficient for you.
Consequently, turn thy face unto the Kingdom of THE COVENANT, thy heart beating with the Love of GOD, thy soul attracted to the Fragrances of GOD, thy tongue speaking of the appearance of the Kingdom of GOD, thy insight rending veils asunder and disclosing the realities of things—and with a power which may move the heart of all in the world.
This is a confirmation from the Lord of the Effulgence, while all else save this shall never profit thee! This is that by reason of which thy face shall gleam, thy heart shall be dilated with joy, thy soul become pure, thy back strengthened, thy spirit rejoiced and thine identity quickened. Leave the people of suspicion behind thy back and adhere to the Manifest Signs.
By GOD, the True One! Verily, the people are drunken and asleep, confused and heedless, and this will drag them to the lowest of the low. This is no other than a manifest loss!
- Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
"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 (September 8, 1913) Eizzat | No. 10 |
REGENERATES MANKIND
RECOGNITION OF "THE CENTRE OF THE COVENANT"—THE IMPORTANT MATTER BEFORE THE WORLD TO-DAY.
Extracts from a letter to a Bahai Assembly tn America
BY CHARLES MASON REMEY.DURING my travels of the past few months I have found that while the problems of each assembly assume their own special character, there is but one vital universal question. This is that of firmness in The Center of the Covenant. Until this matter is solved no problems are solved; and when this matter is solved (when we are firm in The Covenant), all of our problems are solved.
When the members of an assembly are each and all firm in The Center of The Covenant they are then organically united and the life of The Covenant is manifest in their midst—thus the will and the desire of God may be accomplished. In no other way can it be done. We all must be firm in The Center of The Covenant, in the love of Abdul-Baha!
* * * * * * * *
"The Root of all knowledge is the knowledge of God, Glory be to Him, and this knowledge is impossible save through His Manifestation."—From "Words of Wisdom," BAHA'O'LLAH.
God has manifested Himself in this day, as in times past, that mankind shall be quickened and aroused from his human or natural condition of spiritual darkness into one of spiritual illumination or life eternal.
The spiritual, or divine life, of the soul is not a condition into which man can evolve by virtue of his human perfection. It is a condition into which he is born only through believing in, having faith in, and obeying the Manifestation of God sent unto him through the bounty of the Eternal One.
The divinely quickened soul has within it that element of spiritual or eternal life which is not found in natural or human man. This is the line of demarkation or differentiation between the kingdom of man and the Kingdom of God.
In the mineral kingdom there is no physical life, while in the vegetable kingdom there is physical life. In the kingdom of natural or human man there is no divine or spiritual life, while in the spiritually quickened souls there is divine, spiritual or eternal life.
Eternal life or divine illumination is not spontaneously generated in the souls of men. Man receives this new life directly from the Manifestation of God or the "Word Revealed."
The Manifestations of God have been the unique centers from which the world has received all knowledge of God, and outside of these divine channels no divine enlightenment has ever come to humanity. Therefore, how necessary and important is it that in each prophetic day mankind should seek God's revealed Word, and abide there in centering their lives in the Manifestation of God.
Through each of the Divine Revelators of the past, God made the promise to man that during those latter days of the world He would establish His Divine Rule upon earth—that He would fulfill His Covenant, and establish His Kingdom Triumphant among men.
In the coming of The Báb who was The First Point, BAHA'O'LLAH who was The Pre-existent Root, and Abdul-Baha The Branch, Branched from The Pre-existent Root—in this triple coming is realized the fulfillment of all of the Divine Promises of the past and the establishment of the Covenant of God.
As the life in the branch of the tree is the
same as that in the root, so the Divine Spirit
manifest in Abdul-Baha—The Branch—is the
same as that manifested in BAHA'O'LLAH—The[Page 172]
Root—Abdul-Baha has sacrificed all in The
Path of BAHA'O'LLAH, and now the Power of
BAHA'O'LLAH is manifesting to the world
through Abdul-Baha. He is the Center of
Guidance—The Center of The Covenant; therefore
all must turn wholly and without reserve
unto him, for Abdul-Baha is The Chosen One,
the unique channel through which the Power
of God is being conveyed to each individual
Bahai, as a member of God's Kingdom upon
earth.
The believers may be compared to leaves upon The Branch. Through the branch, and through the branch only are the leaves nourished from the roof of the tree. As the branch is the only intermediary between the leaves and the root, so Abdul-Baha, The Branch [for there is but one Living Branch, branched from BAHA'O'LLAH, The Pre-existent Root], is the intermediary between the believer and the Pre-existent source of Divine Power which is BAHA'O'LLAH.
As the Power and stability of the tree is due to its firm, organic connection with the root, so is the power and strength of Abdul-Baha the Power and Strength of God, because he is branched from the Pre-existent Divine Root of The Word of God manifested in BAHA'O'LLAH. As the well-being of each leaf depends upon its firm and organic connection with the branch, so does the spiritual well-being of every Bahai depend upon his or her spiritual connection with The Branch, Abdul-Baha.
In storm and tempest, when the tree is shaken, those leaves that are alive in the branch remain upon the tree; while in those leaves in which the life of the branch is not—the dead leaves—these fall to the ground, having no life in them. When the unity and steadfastness of the Bahais is tested those who are strong in The Center of The Covenant, those in whose souls lives the Spirit of Abdul-Baha—will remain firm and steadfast throughout all conditions, while those who are not firmly attached to The Branch will, with the first troubles, drop away from The Covenant. In this condition their station is a worse one than that of those who have never heard The Lord's Call.
* * * * * * * *
This day is seeing great changes in the religious thought of the world. Everywhere the natural world of man is being prepared for the Kingdom of God.
In the springtime the ground is broken and prepared to receive the seed, this preparation has to do with the mineral elements in which there is no life. When the seed is sown the elements of vegetation descend into the earth in which inorganic material grows the vegetable, an organic body against which the inorganic forces of the mineral kingdom have no avail. Although every force in the mineral kingdom is against the principle of vegetative life, yet notwithstanding this very opposition the vegetable lives, grows and dominates the mineral.
In like manner is every human condition of the natural man opposed to the life of the spiritual man. Before the Divine Messengers of God have sown the spiritual seeds of the Kingdom, the hearts of men, in which there were no elements of divine life, have through human trials and conditions been broken and prepared to receive God's Word. His Word has taken root and grown in the soil of the hearts of men while every element in the being of the natural or human man has been against the growth of the newly quickened spirit, yet it is because of this conflict that spiritual man has become strong and had dominion over the natural or human in man.
This natural human force against the religion of God has ever been the spirit of the Anti-Christ. Where the light is the brightest, the shadows are the blackest. In the day of each Manifestation, when God's Glory was manifest to illumine the hearts of men, those illumined souls who followed The Word have always been surrounded from without by the most subtle influences working upon them, to sever, if such were possible, their spiritual connection with the Channel of Divine Grace—The Manifestation of God.
The spirit of Anti-Christ is the spirit of denial of the Word Manifest. The opposition of the mineral to the vegetable causes the vegetable to grow firm and strong, and the opposition of the forces of human man, the spirit of the Anti-Christ, cause the divinely quickened souls to grow strong and steadfast in The Kingdom.
In this day humanity as a whole is being
prepared for the quickening of God's Kingdom.
Creeds, dogmas and philosophies of the
past are being broken and shattered and are
without spiritual effect. The religious thought
of the present world is like shifting sand.
This world thought is against the growth of
the Cause of God—against the Bahai Cause—for
the religion of Bahá is not merely a Cause
of God, it is THE Cause of God, outside of[Page 173]
which there is no source of Truth in this
world. It is The Divine Covenant and Abdul-Baha
is the God-appointed Center of that
Covenant.
The very fact that the Bahai Cause is the essence of the Creation of the New Kingdom, places it, in kind, above all other forces at work in the world. It dominates all.
* * * * * * * *
In general the human philosophy of man is this: That by a natural process of evolution he evolves from a state of human darkness into one of spiritual illumination. That he has inherently within himself the spark of divine life itself, and this simultaneously develops without the instrumentality of a prophet or Divine Revelator, and then through his own virtues man attains to God's Kingdom.
It is curious that in this age people still cling to such imaginations when history shows that each new civilization has had its birth in a new religion, and that each new religion has had its quickening power through a Prophet or a new Manifestation of the one Pre-existent Word of God.
Mankind has ever tried to create a way to Divine Grace through means other than those provided by God. It is recorded that at one time men tried to build a tower out of the materials of the earth in order to escape earthly conditions and arrive at heavenly conditions. Confusion fell upon them, and the affair ended in division and dispersion. We look back upon this story of the Tower of Babel and we see therein a vivid portrait of the spiritual condition of this world of the present day.
Before the mind of the world is the idea of the Milennial Age of Peace with all of its ideal institutions. Upon every hand institutions are being founded and carried on with the object in view of bringing about peace ideals. Instead of using spiritual means to achieve a spiritual end they are using material means! The divine institution of the Kingdom of God cannot be built with any other than spiritual means.
Regarding these mundane conditions which hold the world in a state of war, and trouble from which humanity cries out for freedom, Abdul-Baha has repeatedly said that there is but one power which shall prevail against them and that power is the power of The Covenant of God.
God has established His Kingdom. His Kingdom is the Bahai Cause. This is His Covenant. It is the stone which has been rejected by the people of the world, and now it has become the foundation of "Peace on earth," having its Center in The Center of the Covenant.
For many years Abdul-Baha has been imploring and calling the people to "firmness and steadfastness in the Covenant and Testament," which is firmness and steadfastness in The Center of The Covenant which is Abdul-Baha himself. The reason for this repeated call is now becoming apparent to the Bahais, for upon this connection, Abdul-Baha, depends the wellbeing of the Cause.
Consider: With the physical body its well-being depends upon the perfect connection or unity of each of its organs with the heart from which the life forces are forthcoming. Abdul-Baha being the center of spiritual life in the world today, is the heart of the Kingdom of God—the Bahai Cause—so the spiritual well-being of the Cause (as well as of its individual members) depends upon the connection of all the various members with The Center of The Covenant, Abdul-Baha.
When an organ of the physical body is not in proper function with the heart, and does not receive nourishment through the blood, it ceases to function and dies. When a Bahai cuts himself off from Abdul-Baha, who is the source of his spiritual life, he dies spiritually and is no longer of the Kingdom. Therefore, it behooves all to keep in the closest of spiritual touch with Abdul-Baha, holding to his Word, obeying him in both the spirit and the letter and never for one instant looking in any direction other than toward him—the divinely appointed Center of The Covenant.
* * * * * * * *
There are those individuals referred to as the nakazeen who, after embracing God's Truth and associating themselves with His Cause, have denied The Center of The Covenant and dropped away from the Power of The Cause. They are as dead—as spiritual corpses—and from them goes forth to the believers a poisonous infection from which the believers must be protected lest they also become infected and in like manner fall ill and die to the realities of God's Kingdom.
Consider: Whenever an organ of the body
becomes diseased the whole body suffers—the
vital forces of the body flow to the ill member
that it be resuscitated and again function normally.
If, however, that organ becomes gangrenous
or dies, and putrefaction sets in, it becomes
necessary to use the surgeon's knife.[Page 174]
Thus, even a diseased member must be cut off
from the body else the whole body will die.
When a Bahai is suffering spiritually, all of the friends should surround that soul with love, showing kindness and attention upon it in order to bring it back again into close communion with Abdul-Baha—for there is but one cause of spiritual disease among the Bahais, and that is a state of unstability in The Center of The Covenant.
But when a soul has wholly and completely severed himself from Abdul-Baha—denied The Center of The Covenant, whether either openly by words, or subtly in his heart in secret, that soul is dead spiritually*. It becomes a dead or gangrenous member of the body of The Cause. Its condition is infinitely more deplorable in this state than before it heard The Truth while it was yet in the human or the unquickened condition of the natural man. When a soul falls into such a state of violation of the Covenant, there is but one thing to do and that is for the friends to cut it off from the body of The Cause, for if the friends do not, sever themselves from such an one they will themselves become infected by this deadly condition, and then the whole assemblage of the friends will become diseased.
In a recent Tablet The Center of The Covenant states:
"Let them (the Bahais) be awake! Let them be mindful! As soon as they see a trace of violation of The Covenant they must hold aloof from the violators."
And again in another Tablet he says:
"Firmness in The Covenant means OBEDIENCE so that no one may say, 'this is my
*Portion of a Tablet recently revealed by Abdul-Baha:
"Convey the wonderful ABHA greeting to the believers. Chicago, in comparison with the cities of America, was in advance and numerically contained more Bahais, but when the stench (vile odor) of the nakazeen was spread in that city, there was a stagnation. The Cause in other cities of America is progressing day unto day, but Chicago is stationary. Therefore, strive that the sweet fragrance of the Testament and the Covenant may become diffused, the nostrils of the spiritual ones become perfumed, the banner of Ya-Baha-el ABHA" be unfurled and the tent of the Oneness of the world of humanity be pitched. Then ye shall observe that Chicago has become the Paradise of ABHA. These few nakazeen cannot accomplish anything worth while. The utmost is this, that they will be the means of the drooping of the believers of God in that city. A person deprived of the spirit of the Covenant is sentenced as dead. The dead surely disintegrate. Therefore, breathe the spirit of the Covenant and the Testament as much as ye can in the hearts, so that the souls may progress day unto day and obtain a new exhilaration.
Upon thee be Baha-el-ABHA!
- (Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 4, 1913, Port Said, Egypt.
opinion' nay rather he must obey that which proceeds from the Pen and Tongue of The Covenant."
We Bahais are commanded to treat the opposer of The Cause as the friend, and to shower kindness upon those who persecute and cause trouble for the Bahais. However, the condition of the opposer of The Covenant, and the condition of the denier of The Covenant are wholly different. The opposer is one who has not yet been awakened to the Truth. He is outside of The Cause and can have no avail against it, whereas the denier is within the body of The Cause, and until he is taken out from the body of The Cause his diseased condition is infecting the whole body.
Physically a man has nothing to fear from poisons which are kept outside of his body. His danger lies when poisons enter into his body.
Imagine a family in which a death occurs. Although each of the survivors be in a state of perfect health, yet it is necessary to remove the corpse of the departed from the house, for with the putrefaction of the corpse the disease contagious would prevail and all would die.
We know that our beloved Abdul-Baha does not wish any soul to be deprived of the Bounties of The Kingdom, nevertheless when The Cause of God is at stake, the individual who is damaging The Cause must go. Abdul-Baha recently wrote:
"Such souls are nothing but pure harm to The Cause of God, and it is very well that they go out, for the abominable deeds of such souls are like unto an axe at the root of The Cause."
* * * * * * * *
It is one thing to be merely "attracted" to the divine teachings of God's chosen revelator, and another thing to become so centered in His Chosen One as to sacrifice all in His Path. The first case is only to have one's attention called to the bounties of the kingdom; the second is to know and to recognize The Center of Spiritual Guidance through, or from, which the knowledge of the Kingdom proceeds.
In the day of Jesus, the Christ, vast multitudes
were attracted to Him and to His Cause,
but of these there were but twelve men and a
few women who believed to the point of recognizing
in Him the Glory of God Manifest—The
Christ. This recognition was what quickened
the souls of His Disciples and the early
Fathers, and it was by this and by this alone,
that they were given the power to go forth and[Page 175]
give Christ's Message to the world. The great
Christian civilization (the bounties of which
the people of the world are now enjoying) had
its birth or main spring in the Revelation of
Jesus, and its spiritual quickening in those
who, like Peter, recognized Jesus to be "The
Christ, the Son of The Living God"; whereas
those souls who were merely attracted to
Jesus and before really believing slipped away
from The Cause, played no part in the great
organic growth of Christianity.
So it is again in this day of revelation. How many souls are attracted to Abdul-Baha. How many crowd to see him and to hear him, yet the real blessing is that of realizing in him The Center of God's Covenant.
From the following quotation from the "Tablet of the Branch," revealed by BAHA'O'LLAH, the importance of this matter will be clearly understood:
"O, ye people! draw nigh unto it [The Branch (The Center of The Covenant, Abdul-Baha)] and taste the fruits of its knowledge and wisdom on the part of The Mighty, The Knowing One. Whosoever will not taste thereof shall be deprived of The Bounty, even though he hath partaken of all that is in the earth—were ye of those who know. . . . Say, O people, praise ye God for its manifestation [The Branch] for verily The Branch [Abdul-Baha] is the most great power upon you, and the most perfect blessing upon you; and through Him every mouldering bone is quickened. Whosoever turns unto Him hath surely turned unto God, and whosoever turneth away from Him hath turned away from My Beauty, denied My Proof, and is of those who transgress. Verily, He is the Remembrance of God amongst you, and His Trust within you, and His Manifestation unto you, and His appearance among the servants who are nigh. Thus have I been commanded to convey to you The Message of God, your Creator; and I have delivered unto you that of which I was commanded."
Following this and other similar commands revealed by BAHA'O'LLAH the true and firm Bahais have turned with implicit faith towards Abdul-Baha, The Branch, The Center of The Covenant, in whom they find their illumination, their guidance, their strength, their hope, their all.
THEREFORE, RECOGNIZING IN ABDUL-BAHA THE CENTER OF GOD'S COVENANT, IS, IN THIS DAY, THE ONE ALL-IMPORTANT MATTER BEFORE THE WORLD, FOR IN HIM IS THE POWER OF THE COVENANT OF GOD, WHICH ALONE IS TO REGENERATE MANKIND.
* * * * * * * *
The difficulties and problems of an assembly will solve themselves when everyone concentrates their faith in The Center of The Covenant. Study "The Tablet of The Branch" and Abdul-Baha's address upon "The Covenant" given in New York City, June 19, 1912, and also his Tablet upon "The Covenant." These latter were published in Washington, D. C., in pamphlet form. They can be obtained by writing to the Washington assembly.
My love and greetings to all the friends.
Yours in The Center of The Covenant,
- CHARLES MASON REMEY.
Honolulu, Hawaii, July 19, 1913.
O servant of GOD!
Know thou, verily, the Fragrances of the Garden of THE COVENANT have perfumed all regions, the Standard of THE TESTAMENT is waving upon the castles of glory, and there is no refuge for those who flee from this strongly fortified Fortress!
Do the people of surmise imagine that there is for them any other retreat than this Blessed Region from which the Lights have shone forth, the mysteries have appeared and the signs are being diffused?
O servant of GOD! Arise to promote the Word of GOD, to promulgate THE COVENANT OF GOD, and chant the Verses of GOD with such power whereby the elements of discord may tremble in those regions!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
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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.
Editorial Staff: ALBERT R. WINDUST — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA — DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
Honorary Member: MIRZA AHMAD SOHRAB
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 (September 8, 1913) Eizzat | No. 10 |
Lest some of the friends may think, when reading Mr. Remey's excellent presentation of this vital subject—published in this issue of the STAR OF THE WEST—that Abdul-Baha is now teaching something new regarding "The Center of The Covenant," we have reproduced Tablets (see pages 170 and 175) which were spread throughout America many years ago, wherein is plainly stated that which is now becoming clearly understood.
Abdul-Baha has always maintained this position as The Center, although for some years this Centership has been veiled from the people because of their spiritual blindness.
* * * * * * * *
In the following Tablet, recently received, Abdul-Baha sends greeting to all who are "firm in The Covenant and Testament":
Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH-EL-ABHA!
HE IS GOD!O thou my spiritual son!
Thy letter written on ................, 1913, was duly received. Thank God that thou art firm and steadfast in the Cause. Today the magnetic power that attracts the divine confirmation is firmness and steadfastness. The tree whose root is firm will yield lucious fruit. The building whose foundation is solid will stand the rush of torrent and hurricane. The steamer which is built strongly will resist the battling waves. Therefore, thank thou God that thou art aided in firmness and steadfastness. Likewise, thy kind father and mother. I beg from the divine Favors that each one of you may be in the utmost state of firmness and steadfastness like unto a mountain and withstand the attack of all the people of the earth. Then ye shall observe how the divine confirmations shall descend uninterruptedly.
Convey on my behalf respectful greeting to all the believers and the maid-servants of the Merciful who are firm in the Covenant and the Testament.
Upon thee be BAHA-El-ABHA!
- (Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, August 2, 1913. Ramleh, Egypt.
ANTI-CHRIST
In Mr. Remey's article is mentioned the "spirit of anti-Christ." The words of Abdul-Baha regarding this subject, quoted below, may be of interest at this time:
"Some say Abdul-Baha is anti-Christ. They are not informed of the Bahai principles. BAHA'O'LLAH established Christ in the East. He has praised Christ, honored Christ, exalted Him, called Him the Word of God, the Spirit of God, raised the Name of Christ to supreme summits of glorification. Throughout the Orient the Bahais have illumined the lamp of Christ and spread his mention.
"Did not His Holiness Jesus Christ ignite the[Page 177]
world with the Light of Moses? Did He not
fulfill the Religion of Moses? Did He not
spread the Book of Moses to the remotest East
and West? Christ was the cause of spreading
the Teachings of Moses and promulgating the
Old Testament. Notwithstanding this, the
Jews consider Christ the enemy of the Religion
of Moses.—the destroyer of the foundations
of the Law of Moses. The Pharisees
blasphemed Him night and morning,—called
Him 'Satan' and 'Beelzebub.' This is recorded
in the text of the Gospels.
"History will repeat itself. BAHA'O'LLAH will be assailed in the same way by those who are not informed of His principles and Teachings."
THE Executive Board of Bahai Temple Unity wishes to inform the friends of the Mashrak-El-Azkar that the note due Sept. 1st, with interest on $9,000.00, was met, and that they still have a balance of $327.00.
If the friends will bend every energy, the remaining $6,000.00 could very soon be liquidated and the energies of the Executive Board could be addressed to the sinking of the great caissons, upon which will rest the dome of the Edifice. This foundation work can readily be prepared before even a plan has been decided upon for the building proper, as we know the dimensions of the main tract.
It will interest the friends to know that we have been told that the rock ledge (bed rock) below that site is about 95 feet. An expert architect tells us, nine caissons, 9 feet in diameter, will support the heaviest dome that could be constructed.
Surely the friends cannot rest day or night until this sum of $6,000.00 has been cleared away and preparations made to break ground to sink the great caissons, or first foundation.
May the Unity gatherings of the Bahais of the Western Hemisphere, on the 9th of each month, strengthen the friends to achieve this.
- CORINNE TRUE, Financial Secretary,
- 5338 Kenmore Ave., Chicago.
"Praise be to God that the New York believers became confirmed in the accomplishment of a great service and held in that city the Consultation Convention for the erection of the Mashrak-el-Azkar. They displayed the utmost of effort until that Convention was inaugurated with infinite perfection. They exercised the greatest of love and kindness towards all the delegates who had come from the different states. They invited and entertained the delegates in their homes. With perfect affection they spread before them the banquet of hospitality. Every one became grateful and happy. This event will adorn an important and blessed page in the Bahai history. Abdul-Baha is pleased with every one and supplicates and entreats toward the Kingdom of BAHA'O'LLAH and begs inexhaustible confirmations for the friends.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS."
Miss Annie T. Boylan, 459 W. 23rd St.
Mrs. Annie H. Lincoln, 2823 Clarendon Road (Flatbush).
Mr. Harry F. Daley, care New England Casualty Co.
Mr. Albert E. Fesler, 2715 N. Hicks St.
Mr. A. M. Dahl, 522 Duquesne Ave. (Edgewood Park).
Mr. F. G. Hale, 440 Fairmount Ave., Jersey City.
Mrs. H. M. Saunders, 26 Center St.
Mrs. Ursula S. Moore, 1800 Bentalou St.
Mr. Frank J. Phelps, 51 Quincy Place, N. E.
Mrs. Pauline Crandall, 316 Hector St.
Mrs. Henrietta Mills, 494 Elmwood Ave.
Mr. Geo. Thompson. 38 St. Mark St.
Dr. Pauline Barton-Peeke, Rose Building.
Mrs. Russell L. Brooker, 798 Bloomfield Ave.
Mrs. Joseph Stauss, 3640 Epworth Ave.
Mrs. Frank Spink, 103 ½ Monroe Ave.
Mr. Nels Peterson, P. O. Box 95.[Page 178]
Miss Josephine Nelson, 6641 Cottage Grove Ave.
Mr. Walter Bohanan, R. F. D. Route 36, Box 135.
Mr. Andrew J. Nelson, 2041 Carmel Ave.
Miss H. A. McCutcheon,, 311 Hulet Block.
Mrs. Josephine Clark, 4141 Xavier St.
Dr. C. F. Lathrop, 213 People's Bank Building.
Mrs. Evelyn K. Moore, 1718 Mansfield Ave.
Mr. Herman Eisert, 1230 Broadway.
Mr. B. N. Bowman, 86 North 16th St.
Mrs. Helen S. Goodall, 1537 Jackson St.
Mr. F. B. Beckett, 300 Oak Drive, Tropico.
Miss Elizabeth Muthur, P. O. Box 494.
Hospital Hamidie' Chichli, Constantinople.
To the STAR OF THE WEST:
Dear Bahai Friends:—It is with great joy that I send to all the Bahais the love and greetings of our Turkish friends in Constantinople. I have been here about a month as infirmire major of the French red-cross, to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals.
It is a great pleasure at the same time to meet and greet the friends here. They are few, but very sincere and devoted to the Cause. I have been received and treated with the greatest respect by all, including the doctors and surgeons. All seem touched when sympathy and brotherhood are bestowed upon them during this terrible war. I am very busy, and I thank God that I have been able to prepare myself to help and nurse so many poor soldiers.
To meet the few friends here, among them Nazim Bey and his wife, and Emin Bey was a surprise, and I cannot find words to express the love they showered upon me. I have also renewed the acquaintance of some Turkish friends whom I knew in Paris and who had been interested in the Cause.
It will interest the American friends to learn of the efforts which the Turkish women are making to liberate themselves. I have joined a society which they formed during the war, "The Society for the Defense of the Rights of Women." I have written to some of the women's suffrage societies in France, to interest them in this young society, for these Turkish women are struggling bravely to gain a little of the liberty which their occidental sisters enjoy, and we should encourage them and give them a helping hand.
It is very sad indeed to see the suffering and poverty here. This work in Constantinople will be one of my most cherished memories, and I hope to remain here three months more.
The friends here join me in sending to all the assurance of our love and devotion to the Bahai Cause.
- Your devoted sister,
- G. d'Ange d'Astre.
NEWS NOTES:
Prof. E. C. Getsinger, of Washington, D. C., sailed Sept. 2d, for Port Said, Egypt, in response to a cablegram from Abdul-Baha to come at once. Some weeks ago his wife, Mrs. Lua Getsinger, went to Egypt in response to a similar message.
Dr. M. I. Basheer, after four years' sojourn in America, where he has completed his course of study in medicine, is soon to return to his home in Port Said, Egypt.
OUR PERSIAN SECTION.
This issue contains: (1) Talk by Abdul-Baha on "Heavenly Civilization," given at the Hotel Ansonia, New York City; (2) talk by Abdul-Baha on "The Influence or Penetration of the Divine Power," given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Dodge, New York City; (3) talk by Abdul-Baha, "The Gathering of the Disciples," delivered at a feast given by Mirza Djafar Chirazi, at Port Said, Egypt; (4) Tablet from Abdul-Baha to the editor of the Christian Commonwealth, London; (5) talk by Abdul-Baha on "The Supernatural Power in Man," given at the home of Mr. Mountfort Mills, New York City; (6) talk by Abdul-Baha to the children assembled at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Dodge, New York City.
نجم باختر 1329
جلد 04 شماره 10 . ماه رمضان از شیکاغو امریکا
فهرست مندرجات
بیان مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله مدنیّت آسمانی .
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله « نفوذ قوّه الهیّه » .
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله « اجتماع حوّاریون حضرت مسیح » .
لوح مبارک برای مدیر جریدۀ کریسشن کامن ولث در لندن .
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله « قوّه ماوراء الطبیعه در انسان » .
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء برای اطفال در نیویورک .
آدرس تجم باختر . صندوق پستی 283 . شیکاگو . ایلینوی . ایالات متحّدۀ امریکا .
Address: Najme Bakhtar, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
PAGE 1 VOL. IV No 10
نجم باختر 1329
جلد 4 شماره 10 قیمت اشتراک: 1 دالر . سالی دوازده قران
اگست 10 ماه کمال سنه 70
این جریده بر حسب 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
مدنیّت آسمانی
بیان مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در هتل انسونیا در نیویورک بعد از ظهر 16 آوریل سنه 1912 برای « بی شب برج »
الحمدلله ترقیّات مادیّه در این بلاد حاصل است ولکن مدنیّت مادیّه تنها کفایت نکند زیرا ترقیّات مادیّه قوّۀ دینامیت و توپ کروپ ایجاد نماید آلات حرب را زیاد کند خیر و شرّ را هر دو ترقیّ میدهد جمیع این خونریزیها و آلات جنگ و حرب از نتائج مدنیّت مادیّه است هرگاه این مدنیّت مادیّه به مدنیّت الهیّه منضمّ شود آنوقت کامل گردد صندوق چوب را چون سابق مانع از دزد ها میشد امّا حالا صندوقهای آهنی مانع نمیشود پس از این مدنیّت مادّی چنانچه خیر پیش میآید شرّ هم پیش میآید مگر آنکه مدنیّت زمینی با مدنیّت آسمانی توأم شود مدنیّت مادّی بمثابۀ جسم انسان است اگر منضمّ به روح شود حیات یابد و الا جیفه نیست و متعفّن میشود
حضرت بی شب اظهار تشکرّ از این تعالیم قدسیّه نمود » فرمودند من هم از این جهت بسیار ممنونم که الحمدلله کلیسای شما آزاد است مانند سائر کلیساها تعصّب ندارد که من در اروپا میدیدم تعصّب محض بود ولی در کلیسای شما
صفحه 2 - 1
من نطق کردم و همه مسرور بودند چه قدر فرق دارد لذا من بجان و دل شماها را دوست دارم و میخواهم سوء تفاهمی که میانۀ ملل شرق و غرب است برطرف شود تا کلّ محبّت تامّه بیکدیگر پیدا کنیم و مدنیّت آسمانی ترویج نمائیم امیدوارم چنان توفیقی حاصل شود که کلّ متحدّ شویم . « عرض کرد تا حال کسی از شرق با چنین قوّه و مقصد عظیمی به غرب نیامده لهذا بی نهایت ما ممنون و متشکرّیم »
نفوذ قوّۀ الهیّه
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله نفوذ قوّه الهیّه در منزل مستر و مسس داج در نیویورک عصر 16 آوریل سنه 1913
خوب مجلسی است قوای مادیّه نمیتواند اینگونه نفوس را الفت بخشد تا این درجه بسوی محبّت و اتّحاد کشاند تا بحال مثل این انجمن منعقد نشده که نفوسی از شرق بیایند و اهل غرب اینگونه با نهایت محبّت و یگانگی با آنها معامله و ملاقات نمایند این فقط به یک قوّۀ الهیّه حاصل شده است ! وقتی که حضرت مسیح ظاهر شد در میان شعوب و فرق مختلفه الفت داد در میان یونان ورومان و سریان واجبیّان التیام داد زیرا اختلاف و عداوت بین آن اقوام به درجه ئی بود که
صفحه 1 - 2
محال بود الفت و التیام حاصل شود لکن حضرت مسیح بقوّۀ الهیّه کلّ را متّحد و متفّق فرمود پس این الفت و محبّت که حضرت
بهاء الله در میان ما انداخته نمیشود مگر بقوّۀ الهیّه عنقریب ملاحظه خواهید نمود که چگونه شرق و غرب دست در آغوش شود و علم وحدت عالم انسانی خیمه برافرازد جمیع ملل را این قوّه در ظلّ خود جمع نماید اسم ایرانی و امریکائی نماند . نفوسی باسم انگلیسی و جرمنی افتخار نکند و تساوی و عربی نامیده نشوند جمیع ملتّ واحده گردند چنانکه از هر یک سئوال نمائی که تو از چه ملتّی گوید : « انسانم و در ظلّ عنایت بهاء الله خادم عالم انسانیم لشگر صلح اکبرم » جمیع یک ملتّ و یک عائله و اهل یک وطن گردند و این نزاع و جدال نماند حضرت بهاء الله در نقطه ئی که مرکز تعصبّ بود ظاهر شد و با وجودی که ملل و مذاهب مختلفه در نهایت بغض و عداوت بودند خون یکدیگر را میریختند جنان اتّحاد و اتّفاقی در میان آنها انداخت که با هم در نهایت التیام و الفتند نهایت اشتیاق و آرزوشان اینست که روزی با شماها ملاقات نمایند روبرو شوند به بینند قوّۀ بهاء الله چه کرده !امروز عالم انسانی علیل است و علاجش اتّحاد عالم است حیاتش به صلح اکبر است و سرورش به وحدت عالم انسانی از فضل و عنایت الهی امیدوارم که شما به روح جدیدی مبعوث شوید به قوّه ئی قیام نمائید که آثار وحدت عالم انسانی و صلح اکبر و محبّت الهی از این شهر بسایر بلاد تأثیر نماید بلکه از امریکا به قطعات دیگر سرایت کند زیرا این مملکت خیلی استعداد حاصل کرده امیدوارم چنانچه در مادیّات ترقیّات عظیمه نموده قوّۀ روحانیّه نیز حاصل نماید فیوضات الهیّه یابد توجّهشان بخدا باشد همه خادم عالم انسانی گردد و انتشار فضائل انسانیّه دهند تا انوار مدنیّت آسمانی از اینجا بجمیع جهات بتابد اورشلیم الهی نازل شود فیض ملکوت احاطه نماید امیدم چنان است که در این میدان قوّت شدید بنمائید زیرا خدا معین شماست نفثات روح القدس مؤیّد شماست و ملائکه ملکوت حامی
صفحه 2 - 2
شما یقین است این فیوضات شما را احاطه خواهد نمود .
اجتماع حواریّون
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله اجتماع حواریّون حضرت « مسیح » شب 27 جون سنه 1913 در پورت سعید در ضیافت جناب آقا میرزا جعفر شیرازی زیر خیمه در هتل سلطانی در وقتی که بیشتر از هفتادو پنج نفر مسافرین از ممالک شرق دور تا بدور میز نشسته و طلعت مبارک میثاق در بالای میز جالس :
هوالله
فی الحقیقه خوب مجلسی است بهتر از این نمیشود حاضرین از احبّای الهی در کمال توجّه الی الله با یکدیگر نشسته اند و قلوب در نهایت محبّت و الفت و صدور منشرح و جناب آقا میرزا جعفر هم میزبان مهربان اینجا را مجمع البحرین میگویند و در قرآن ذکر « مرج البحرین » است یعنی جائیکه حضرت موسی و یوشع با شخصی بزرگوار « علمناه من لدنّا علما » ملاقات نمودند موقعی که ماهی مرده زنده شده و این معنی بدیع دارد باری امیدوارم انشاء الله تأییدات غیبیّه پیاپی رسد و اینگونه مجالس مکرّر فراهم آید در عالم وجود این مجالس تأثیرات عظیمه دارد نفوسی که آگاهند پی میبرند که چه آثار و نتائجی خواهد داشت در کور حضرت مسیح حواریّون محفلی در بالای کوه داشتند که اگر خوب تدقیق شود جمیع آنچه بعد واقع شد از نتائج آن اجتماع است پس از آنکه حواریّون بعد از حضرت مسیح متفرّق شدند و مضطرب بودند مریم مجدلیّه سبب شد که حضرات را دوباره جمع نمود و در امر حضرت مسیح ثابت و راسخ کرد و بآنها گفت که چرا مضطرب و سرگردانید ؟ امری واقع نشده زیرا
صفحه 1 - 3
مکرّر حضرت میفرمودند که این امر واقع خواهد گردید ولی جسم از انظار مستور شد امّا حقیقت ساطع و لامع است و مصیبتی بر آن وارد نه بلکه این توضیح بر جسد مسیح است نه بروح حقیقی چرا مضطربید ؟ و از این گذشته حضرت مصائبی داشتند که یک روز آنرا کسی تحمّل نتواند سه سال متمادیا در صحرا بودند گاهی به گیاه گذران میکردند گاهی خاک زمین را بالین خویش مینمودند شب ها چراغی جز ستاره های آسمان نداشت با وجود این زحمت و مشقّت بی پایان شماها را بجهت امروز تربیت کرد اگر بوی وفائی در مشام دارید او را فراموش ننمائید براحت نپردازید آسایش خویش نخواهید اگر اهل وفائید بیاد و ذکر او مشغول باشید آیا سزاوار است آن روی تابان را فراموش کنیم ؟ آیا سزاوار است آن عنایات را از یاد محو نمائیم ؟ آیا سزاوار است از آن جانفشانی حضرت چشم پوشیم ؟ مثل سائرین در فکر خوردن و خوابیدن باشیم در فکر نعمت و آسایش افتیم چگونه این را وفا میتوان گفت که این هیکل مکرّم مستور شود و ما بهوای خود مشغول گردیم ؟ باری حضرات را جمع کرد نهایت بالای جبلی مهمانی شد بعد از آنکه آن چند نفر ذکر لطافت بی پایان حضرت نمودند گفتند باید دید وفا چگونه اقتضا میکند چنان کنیم شبهه نیست که بعد از حضرت وفا قبول نمیکند ما راحت باشیم به لذائذ دنیوی مشغول گردیم و بخیال خویش پردازیم بلکه باید آنچه داریم و نداریم جمیع را فدا کنیم اوّلا از هرچه هست بگذریم نفوسی که تعلقّ دارند عذر بخواهند نفوسی که ندارند تعلقّ ننمایند هیچکس جز فکر او فکری نداشته باشد جمیع افکار را حصر در عبودیّت نمائیم مشغول نشر نفحات او باشیم و در انتشار کلمۀ او بکوشیم همعهد شدند و قرار واقعی دادند و از جبل پائین آمده هر یک فریاد کنان بطرفی رفتند و بخدمت ملکوت پرداختند آنچه در کور حضرت مسیح واقع همه
صفحه 2 - 3
از نتائج آن مجلس بود الی الآن آثارش موجود است حال ما هم که در این موقع نشسته ایم با کمال روحانیّت و الفتیم امیدوارم نتائج عظیمه از این الفت حاصل شود .
لوح مبارک
این لوح مبارک برای مدیر جریدۀ کریسشن کامن ولث نازل شده :
هوالله
ای دوست مهربان بعد از سیاحت تامّ در جمیع امریکا و شهرهای عظیم اروپا مراجعت بشرق نمودم و از این سفر بسیار ممنون و خشنودم زیرا با نفوس محترمی ملاقات نمودم که فی الحقیقه مدار افتخار عالم انسانی هستند فاضل و کامل و مطلعّ بر حقایق وقایع و خیرخواه عالم انسانی علی الخصوص طالبان صلح عمومی زیرا عالم انسانی در این ایّام بمرضی مزمن مبتلا و آن خونریزی و هدم بنیان الهی و تخریب مدائن و قری است و قتل نورسیدگان عالم انسانی و یتیمی اطفال و بی سر و سامانی نساء دیگر چه مصیبتی اعظم از این و مرض پرخطری بالاتر از این ! ملاحظه کنید که اوّل حرب دینی بود حال دیگر حرب جنسی و حرب وطنی شده هزار حسرت از این نادانی و از این خونخواری و از این درندگی !از محافل مبارکی که در غرب بجهت ترویج صلح عمومی دیدم بسیار ممنون و خوشنودم و امیدوارم که آن انجمنها روز بروز توسّع یابد تا انوار افکار عالیه بر جمیع آفاق بتابد و وحدت عالم انسانی در شرق و غرب اعلان گردد عالم آفرینش آسایش یابد این نفوس محترمه که خادم عالم انسانی و مروّج صلح عمومی هستند عنقریب
صفحه 1 - 4
هریک مانند کوکب نورانی از افق انسانی طالع و لائح شوند و آفاق را منوّر نمایند در عصر سابق اعلان حریّت شد و در جمیع ممالک غرب تأسیس بنیان حریّت گردید الحمدلله آفتاب عدل درخشید و ظلمات ظلم زائل شد و در این قرن نورانی که عالم انسانی روبه بلوغ است یقین است که علم صلح عمومی بر جمیع آفاق موج خواهد زد و این اساس اعظم بهاء الله است و جمیع بهائیان در ترویج آن جان فدا مینمایند و اموال خویش را مبذول میدارند . من سه سال است که با وجود ناتوانی در جمیع آفاق سفر نمودم شرق و غرب را طیّ کردم و در هر معبدی فریاد زدم و در هر مجمعی ناله و فغان نمودم مضرّات جنگ را شرح دادم و فوائد صلح عمومی را بیان کردم شرف و منقبت عالم انسانی را توضیح نمودم و درندگی و خونخوارگی عالم حیوانی را شرح دادم فساد عالم طبیعت را تشریح نمودم و نورانیّت عالم انسانی تفصیل دادم اساس ادیان الهی را واضح و آشکار کردم و تعالیم حضرت بهاء الله را اعلان نمودم و اثبات الوهیّت بدلائل قاطعه عقلیّه کردم و حقیّت جمیع انبیاء را ثابت نمودم و حقیقت دین که سبب حیات عالم انسانی است و مدنیّت الهیّه و نورانیّت محض است مدللّ و مبرهن کردم از جمیع این مبادی مقصدم ترویج صلح عمومی بود الحمدلله گوشهای شنوا یافتم و چشمهای بینا دیدم و دلهای آگاه یافتم لهذا از این سفر بسیار ممنونم . ولی خیرخواهان عالم انسانی و مروّجان صلح عمومی باید یک حرکتی خارق العاده نمایند و مجامع عظیمه تشکیل فرمایند و از جمیع بلاد نفوس مهمّه دعوت فرمایند تا این قضیّه صلح عمومی را از حیّز قول بحیّز فعل آرند زیرا این امر بسیار عظیم است بآسانی حصول نیابد باید بجمیع وسائل تشبّث نمود تا نتیجه حاصل گردد پنجاه سال پیش هرکس ذکر صلح عمومی میکرد مورد استهزاء میشد حال
صفحه 2 - 4
الحمدلله بدرجه ئی رسیده است که هر نفسی تصدیق مینماید که این قضیّۀ صلح عمومی روح این عصر است و نور این قرن ولکن بعضی اشکالاتی بیان می کنند . امیدوارم بهمّت بزرگواران عالم انسانی که موهبت الهی و مصلح عالم هستند در این ایّام که در بالتان خون بیچارگان ریخته میشود و ناله و فغان یتیمان بعنان آسمان میرسد و آه و انین مادران آتش سوزان به قلوب انسان میزند بنهایت همّت و قوّت اقدام فرمایند تا این آتش افروخته خواموش گردد و عالم آفرینش آسایش یابد و علم صلح عمومی بلند شود و خیمۀ وخدت عالم انسانی نصب گردد و جمیع بشر در سایۀ آن جمع گردند و کوکب سعادت ابدیّه عالم انسانی از افق صلح عمومی در نهایت اشراق بدرخشد . عبدالبهاء عبّاس .
قوّۀ ماوراء الطبیعه در ا نسان
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در مسئله قوّه ماوراء الطبیعه در منزل مستر منتفرد میلز 15 آوریل سنه 1912 در نیویورک
چند روز است من به نیویورک آمدم پیش از این به اروپا رفتم پاریس و لندن را سیاحت نمودم مملکتی بسیار مزیّن است ترقیّات مادیّه بسیار است ولی ترقیّات روحانیّه بکلیّ عقب مانده در بحر طبیعت مستغرقند هر صحبتی میدارند منتهی به «ناتورل » میشود هیچ ذکری از خدا نیست بسیار تعجّب کردم دیدم پروفسورهای دانا همه مستغرق عالم طبیعتند در مجمعی که اکثر مادیّون بودند صحبت داشتم گفتم جای عجب است که دانایان پاریس با آنکه در علوم مادّی ترقیّ کرده اند در روحانیّت عقب مانده اند با چنین دانائی
صفحه 1 - 5
چگونه راضی شده اند اسیر طبیعت باشند و از عالم الهی غافل مانند بلی عالم ناسوت اسیر طبیعت است جمیع کائنات و موجودات در تحت حکم طبیعت اند آفتاب باین عظمت دریای با این عظیمی اسیر قانون طبیعت اند و ذرّۀ تجاوز از آن نوامیس طبیعت ننمایند مگر انسان که قانون طبیعت را می شکند بر دریا میتازد در هوا پرواز مینماید در قعر دریا سیر مینماید قوّۀ کهربائیّه با این عظمت را در زجاجی حبس می کند صوت آزاد را در آلتی محبوس دارد جمیع این صنایع و علوم که به قانون طبیعت باید مستور ماند و اسرار مکنونۀ طبیعت است انسان از حیّز غیب به عالم شهود آرد و حکم بر طبیعت نماید زیرا انسان شعور داردو طبیعت ندارد انسان قوّۀ عاقله و متفکرّه دارد طبیعت ندارد پس انسان اعظم است امّا اگر بگوئیم انسان جزء طبیعت است باید بگوئیم انسان که جزء است شعور و ادراک و عقل دارد و طبیعت که کلّ است و اصل است محروم از این کمالات و فضائل است چگونه میشود در جزء کمالاتی باشد که در اصل نیست پس معلوم شد که در انسان یک قوّۀ ماوراء الطبیعه موجود است که بآن قوّه فائق است و آن موهبت الهی است لکن در نیویورک الحمدلله احساسات روحانی است قدری از زیر بار طبیعت بیرون رفته اند امیدوارم در این مملکت آباد در این قطعۀ جسیمه انوار فضائل عالم انسانی جلوه کند محبّت الله در قلوب انتشار یابد تا صلح عمومی علم برافرازد و از اینجا سرایت بجمیع عالم نماید .
بعد از مجلس عمومی در اطاق علیحدّه تشریف برده چند نفر از قسیسهای محترم مشرّف شدند فرمودند : شما ملاحظه میکنید لشگر ظلمت احاطه کرده دیانت روزبروز رو بضعف است و قوای روحانیّه رو به اضمحلال و قوای مادیّه روز بروز غالب اگر چنین بماند اثری از دین باقی نمی ماند باید کاری کرد که قوای روحانیّه حاصل شود و روحانیّت نفوس محفوظ ماند و آن باین ترتیبات تقلیدیّه نمیشود
صفحه 2 - 5
اینست که مادیّون در جمیع جهات هجوم نموده اند آنقدر هم که اسم دین باقی است محض تقلید است نه این است که از روی بصیرت و تحقیق باشد آنچه را که از آباء و اجداد شنیده اند معتقد شده اند شماها باید فکری بکنید که قوّۀ طبیعیّون بشکند و آنهائی که حامی طبیعت اند از میدان در روند و این نمیشوذ مگربه هیجان عظیمی در عالم دیانت لشگری که میخواهد میدان برود باید قوّه و سلاحی بدست آرد که مقاوت تواند چنین چیزی لازم است . عرض کردند که شما آن قوّه را دارید فرمودند : ما در شرق این قوّه را استعمال کردیم جمیع را شکست دادیم و آن قوّۀ معرفت الله است و محبّت الله است تعالیم حضرت بهاء الله است مثلا اوّل سلاح مخالفین این بود که آنچه مخالف علم است جهل است ما اعلان نمودیم که دین مطابق علم است و یکی است و هر مسئله ئی از مسائل دینیّه که مطابق علم نباشد وهم است ما این سلاح آنها را شکستیم زیرا آنها میخواستند بگویند دین بر خلاف علم و عقل است پس جهل است این باب را بر آنها سدّ نمودیم از این قبیل بسیار و اعظم ازکلّ قوّۀ محبّت الله است باین قوّه اقالیم قلوب فتح شود .
نطق مبارک برای اطفال
نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در منزل مستر و مسس داج در نیویورک در مجلس اطفال فی 14 آوریل سنه 1912 بعد از نوازش و بوسیدن اطفال فرمودند : به به چه اطفال مبارکی هستند خیلی نورانیند در وجوهشان انوار محبّت الله باهر است در حقّشان دعا میکنم بقول حضرت مسیح اینها اطفال ملکوتند قلوبشان مثل آئینه در نهایت لطافت است هرگاه قلوب بزرگان مثل اینها بشود خوب است چه قدر نورانیند جمیع اطفال قلوبشان نورانی و پاک است هیچ غلّ و غشی ندارند مانند نهالهای تر و تازه اند من در حقّشان دعا میکنم که هریک شجرۀ مبارکه شود و ثمرات طیّبه بخشد .
دکتر ضیاء بغدادی
