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Vol. IV
Chicago, December 12, 1913
No. 15
| PAGE | |
"If you are sincere" | 250 |
A Call to Teaching! | 251 |
Certain New Teachings of the Bahai Revelation Not Found in the Religious Books of the Past | 253 |
The Most Important Work | 256 |
The Command of GOD in this Day | 257 |
Exhortation | 258 |
Persian Section | 259-264 |
IF you are sincere in your love for me, then love and serve the believers of God; then love and serve your fellow-men.
These days, I do not feel very well. My remedy is to hear that the believers love each other. Any other news makes me sick and unhappy. Let everyone speak to me about love and I will love him more. The friends must be real peacemakers; not stirrers up of strife nor sowers of seeds of discord, nor acting with superiority one over another.
I am now growing old. O, very old! All through my life I have carried on my back, gladly, the burdens of the believers; but now I ever anticipate hearing the good news of service actually accomplished by them. Save this, I have no other joy in the world.
Will they not make me happy?
Will they not answer my call, when the shadow of the last night of my earthly life is falling slowly across my path?
Will they not arise with superhuman energy and united effort to spread the Cause and impart to me new vigor?
Will they not listen to me?
How my heart leaps with joy when I hear the friends love each other, always overlooking one another's small mistakes; and that they are forgiving their enemies!
—ABDUL-BAHA.
"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 | No. 15 |
THAT which is THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL THE AFFAIRS IN THIS DAY is to TEACH THE CAUSE OF GOD! You must engage in the diffusion of the Fragrances of GOD, so that ye may impart life to the worlds, illumine the dark regions, confer new existence upon these mouldering, dead bodies, make intelligent and mindful these negligent hearts. Thus may they free themselves from this nether world and soar toward the Universe of the Almighty!
—ABDUL-BAHA.
From Tablet to Albert R. Windust, Chicago.
Translated Oct. 23, 1913, Ramleh, Egypt.
This is the Divine Season of Seed Sowing
"It is not my duty to command particular persons to arise and teach the Cause. Whosoever arises to spread the Word and performs this service, will behold the Doors of Confirmation are open wide before his face. This is the season of teaching, and therefore it will yield results. In every season, something will be productive. If, during the seed-sowing time, we want to gather the harvest, we shall fail. If, at the time of irrigating, we desire to do something else, failure will be the result.
"Now, this is the Divine season of seed-sowing. Every Bahai must become a heavenly cultivator. If, at this season, he performs the prayers of all the past and future ages, it will yield no fruit. My primal object of this long trip was to show, by deed, to the friends of God, that this is the season of teaching the Cause. Although Acca and Haifa [Syria] are the headquarters of the Cause, and I should stay there and from those Centers administer the affairs of the Cause, yet I left everything and traveled throughout the earth to herald the coming of the Kingdom of ABHA.
"Any person desiring to be surrounded by the Confirmation of the Blessed Perfection [BAHA'O'LLAH], must arise and teach the Cause.
"This is the Path!"
- Words of ABDUL-BAHA.
- From the "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab,"
- July 2, 1913.
We Must Be Up and Doing
The Bahai Cause is much in need of real, earnest workers; workers who will surmount all opposition, meeting the antagonist as a firm rock before the blowing of the winds of tests and storms of trial. How many trees are uprooted by one tempestuous wind and how many ships have been wrecked by one storm!
There are many lands athirst for the Water of Life; let the friends of God irrigate them with the vernal showers now descending from the Kingdom of ABHA. There are many souls hungry for the Heavenly Bread; we must invite them to the Banquet of the Lord. The lethargic must become active, the sleeping ones must be awakened; the dispirited ones receive a share of the inexhaustible Favors, and the sweet music of the Supreme Concourse be heard.
We must be up and doing some kind of
service, no matter how slight it is. Praise be[Page 252]
to God! that the Orb of the Centre of the
Covenant is shining and His Mercy is all-encompassing.
He is teaching us, and gently
and lovingly guides us in the right path.
We all hope to serve him in some way or another;
to win his good pleasure by sincerely
walking in his footsteps; to become the signs
of his love; the embodiment of his compassion,
and the humble followers of his eternal
law.
- From the "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab," July 3, 1913.
The Cause of BAHA'O'LLAH is the Solvent for All Problems
Whether we live in the East or in the West, the invisible Power of BAHA'O'LLAH is unifying our scattered forces and training us for the service of His Kingdom—the kingdom of universal love and inter-racial amity. Today, the world of humanity is in need of this Power more than at any other time. The keen competition which is carried on by the captains of industry and finance; the discontent and social unrest of the laboring classes; the bigotry and extreme fanaticism of religionists; the heat and bitterness with which fantastic controversies are upheld between sectarians; the spirit of superiority with which some nations look upon others; the lust of conquest and the desire for the extension of territory; the social and political rivalries between nations and governments, and the hatred and enmity existing between the different races:—all these antagonistic forces clashing against each other, apparently aggravate the situation and make "confusion worse confounded."
But the Power of the Blessed Perfection has come to stay, bringing healing under its wide, outstretched wings. This Power alone is the solvent for all these puzzling problems. There may be found here and there some medicine to give temporary relief; but the lasting and permanent cure is the Bahai Power, which unites all peoples and sets at naught their seeming differences. This Power alone transforms the hearts, inspires the spirits, uplifts the minds, reveals the secrets of Love and unfurls the Banner of Divine Brotherhood.
- From the "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab," July 5, 1913.
The Power of the Cause
"The glad-tidings of the Kingdom of ABHA are effective over the hard stone and resuscitates the dried bones. Like unto the down pouring of the vernal shower, they cause the growth of roses and hyacinths, jasamines and jonquils out of the black soil! Although the inhabitants of that city are submerged in the sea of materialism and it may take some time before they are awakened, yet the Melody of the Kingdom of ABHA shall finally quicken them; the Cup of the Love of God will become full to overflowing, impart a wonderful exhilaration and allay the thirst of the thirsty ones."
- Extracts from Tablet by ABDUL-BAHA.
- Quoted in "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab," July 11, 1913.
The Basis of Bahai Public Teaching
"The basis of the Call [i. e., teaching and delivering addresses] must be the Oneness of the world of humanity, so that the religious fanaticism, sectarian bias, racial prejudice and political prejudice may be removed and all mankind may enter under the uni-colored tent of the Oneness of the World of Humanity, the hearts may affiliate with each other, the souls be attracted, and the East and the West may embrace each other. This must be the basis of your addresses in public meetings."
How Great Movements Have Advanced
"All great movements have advanced through altruism, selflessness, and self-sacrifice, and not through the interchange of public opinion. It is my hope that all of us may arise with the greatest power to serve this most important Cause (Universal Peace) and become the means of the welfare of the world of humanity."
- Extracts from Tablets by ABDUL-BAHA.
- Quoted in "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab," July 12, 1913.
Concerning Temporal and Eternal Sovereignty
"Know thou, verily, I say unto thee that the conditions of this mortal world, even if it be the kingship of the whole expanse of this globe, is ephemeral. It is an illusion. It is ended in nothing; neither does it contain any results, nor, in the estimation of God, is it equal to the wing of a mosquito.
"Where are the kings and the queens?
Where are the palaces and their mistresses?
Where are the imperial thrones and jewelled
crowns? Where are the mighty rulers of
Persia, Greece and Rome? Verily, their palaces
are in ruin and desolation, their thrones[Page 253]
destroyed, and their crowns thrown to the
dust.
"But the signs of any one of the maid-servants of God who arose in the diffusion of the Fragrances of God, serving the Kingdom of God, summoning the people to the Word of God, are widely spread eternally and handed down through centuries and cycles; her dawn is ever luminous; her star always shining; her flag continually flying; her station divinely glorified; her crown scintillating; her message living; her fame immortal; her voice resonant, her spirit in the apex of the Kingdom and her effulgence in the horizon of the Realm of Might.
"I beg of God to make thee one of these maid-servants."
- Extract from Tablet by ABDUL-BAHA.
- Quoted in "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab," July 14, 1913.
The Superlative Degree of Success and Prosperity
"O ye believers of God! Supplicate and entreat at the Threshold of the Almighty to confirm you in the diffusion of the Fragrances of Holiness which are wafting from the direction of the Garden of God. Blow ye over all creation like the breezes of the early morn, and impart ye freshness and verdancy, through the Power of Truth, upon the flowers, sweet hyacinths and the roses of the garden of existence. This is the quintessence of meeting and the superlative degree of success and prosperity—for it causes the attainment of man to the Kingdom of ABHA, attracts him to the Sacred Court of His Highness the Almighty, and suffers him to reach the Sublime Presence of the Powerful and Omnipotent Lord."
- Extract from Tablet by ABDUL-BAHA
- Quoted in "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab," July 21, 1913.
Attracting Souls to the Kingdom of ABHA
"If thou desirest to be confirmed in the service of the Kingdom of God, live in accord with the Teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH, and that is:—real love for the world of humanity and the utmost of kindness for the believers of God. This real love, like unto the magnetic power, attracts the Divine confirmations."
"If a soul calls the people to the Kingdom of God according to the Principles of BAHA'O'LLAH there will be many listeners. First one must teach by deeds; then speak The Word! First one must become thirsty; then the salubrious water be offered. No matter how delicious the water is, one who is not thirsty will not enjoy it. Therefore, make ye an effort so that the people may become thirsty; then cause them to quaff from the Divine Chalice."
- Extract from Tablet by ABDUL-BAHA.
- Quoted in "Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab," July 24, 1913.
The Editors.
NOT FOUND IN THE RELIGIOUS BOOKS OF THE PAST.
Address by Abdul-Baha at 780 West End Avenue, New York City, December 2, 1912.
Ish'te'al Ebn-Kalanter interpreter; stenographic notes by Esther Foster.YOU are all welcome! This is a good assemblage. Praise be to God, the hearts are directed to the Kingdom of ABHA! The souls are rejoiced by the glad-tidings of God. This is an excellent gathering.
This evening I wish to speak to you concerning the special teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH. All the teachings which have been given during the past days and ages are to be found in the Revelation of BAHA'O'LLAH; but in addition to those, this Revelation has certain new teachings which are not to be found in any of the religious books of the past. I shall now refer to some of the new teachings given by BAHA'O'LLAH; as for the rest of them you may obtain them from the Tablets and Epistles written by BAHA'O'LLAH, for the new teachings given by BAHA'O'LLAH are many.
While in the Hidden Words we read concerning that which has descended upon the Prophets of the past,* yet there are in the Hidden Words teachings which are new and particular to this Revelation. Then the Tablet of the Glad-Tidings revealed by BAHA'O'LLAH contains special teachings. The Tablet by
*Refers to the introductory paragraph of the Hidden
Words, as follows: "This is that which descended
from the Source of Majesty, through the tongue of
Power and Strength upon the Prophets of the past.
We have taken its essences and clothed them with the
garment of brevity, as a favor to the beloved, that
they may fulfil The Covenant of GOD; that they may
perform in themselves that which He has entrusted to
them, and attain the victory by virtue of devotion in
the land of the Spirit."[Page 254]
BAHA'O'LLAH called, The Words of Paradise,
contains special teachings. Again the Tablet
of Tajalliat contains special teachings by
BAHA'O'LLAH. Similarly, all the other Tablets
of BAHA'O'LLAH contain new teachings which
have not been revealed in any Books and
Epistles of the past Prophets. Likewise in the
Book of Akdas there are new teachings which
are not to be found in any of the past Books
or Epistles. When you peruse those teachings
you shall comprehend this fact.
Now I shall speak of a few of those teachings. For instance, the Oneness of the world of humanity is one of the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH, for BAHA'O'LLAH addresses Himself to the world of men, saying, "Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one arbor." That is, the world of existence is no other than one tree, and the nations or peoples are like unto the different branches or limbs thereof, and human individuals are similar to the fruits and blossoms thereof. Thus BAHA'O'LLAH presented the Oneness of the world of humanity, while in all past religious Books and Epistles, the world of humanity has been divided into two parts: one called the people of the Book, or the Pure Tree, and the other, the Evil Tree. One-half of the people of the world were looked upon as belonging to the faithful, and the other half as belonging to the irreligious and the infidel; one-half of the people were consigned to the mercy of their Creator, and the other half were considered as objects of the wrath of their Maker.
But His Holiness, BAHA'O'LLAH, proclaimed the Oneness of the world of humanity, and this teaching is specialized to the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH, for He submerged all mankind in the Sea of Divine Generosity. At most some of the people are asleep, they need to be awakened; some of them are ill, they need to be healed; some are children, they need to be trained. In a word: this teaching is a special one of the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.
As to the second teaching which is a new one given by BAHA'O'LLAH: it is the injunction to investigate Truth,—that is, no man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears, and investigate Truth in order that he may find the Truth;—whereas the religion of forefathers and ancestors is based upon blind imitation, while man should investigate the Truth. This again is one of the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.
The third teaching of BAHA'O'LLAH, which is new for this Day, is that the foundation of all the Religions of God is One, and that Oneness is the Truth, and the Truth is but One, and it cannot be made plural. This teaching is again special to BAHA'O'LLAH.
The fourth teaching of BAHA'O'LLAH, which is special for this Day, is that religion must be the cause of unity, harmony and accord amongst men. If religion be the cause of inharmony, or leads to separating men one from the other, and creates conflict amongst them, then irreligion is better than that religion. This again is likewise one of the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.
The fifth teaching of BAHA'O'LLAH, which is new for this Day, is that religion must be in accord with science and reason. If religion is not in conformity with science and reason, then it is superstition. This is one of the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH. Down to the present day it has been customary for man to accept a thing because it was called religion, even though it were not in accord with judgment or human reason.
The sixth new teaching of BAHA'O'LLAH is the equality between men and women. This is peculiar to the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH, for all other religions placed men above women.
The seventh of the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH, which is new for this Day, is that prejudice and fanaticism, whether religious, sectarian, sectional, denominational or patriotic,—are destructive of the foundation of the human solidarity, so that man should release himself from such bonds in order that the Oneness of the world of humanity might become manifest.
The eighth of His teachings is Universal Peace; that all men and nations shall make peace amongst them; that there shall be Universal Peace amongst governments, Universal Peace amongst religions, Universal Peace amongst races, Universal Peace amongst the denizens of all regions. This is one of the special characteristics of the Revelation of BAHA'O'LLAH.
The ninth of these special teachings is that all mankind should partake of both knowledge and education, and this partaking of knowledge and of education is one of the necessities of religion. This again is one of the special characteristics of the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.
The tenth teaching is the solution of the
economic question. For no religious books
of the past Prophets speak of the economic[Page 255]
question, while the economic problem has been
thoroughly solved in the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.
The eleventh teaching is the organization called, The House of Justice, which is endowed with a political as well as a religious aspect. It embodies both aspects, and it is protected by the Preserving Power of BAHA'O'LLAH Himself. A Universal or World House of Justice shall be organized. That which it orders shall be the Truth in explaining the Commands of BAHA'O'LLAH, and that which the House of Justice ordains concerning the Commands of BAHA'O'LLAH shall be obeyed by all. But that will be the House of Justice organized from amongst the members of the Houses of Justice of the whole world, and all men shall be under the supervision of that House of Justice.
As to the most Great Characteristic,—and it is a specific teaching of the Revelation of BAHA'O'LLAH and not given by any of the Prophets of the past,—it is the teaching concerning The Center of The Covenant. By giving the teaching concerning The Centre of The Covenant He made provision against all kinds of differences, so that no man should be able to create a new sect. To guard against that state of thing, He entered into a Covenant with all the people of the world, indicating the Person or the Interpreter of His teachings, so that no man should be able to say that he explains a certain teaching in this way, and thus create a sect revolving around his individual understanding of a part of the teachings. Thus the "Book of the Covenant" and the Testament of BAHA'O'LLAH is the means of preventing such a possibility, for whoever shall say a word from his own self shall be degraded. Be ye cognizant of this. Beware lest anyone shall secretly say anything to you against this! There are some people of self-will and self-desire who do not communicate their selfish intentions to you in a clear language. They secretly and by insinuation do this. They praise a certain individual, saying such an individual is so and so, is wise, is learned, is perfect, he was glorified in the presence of BAHA'O'LLAH, or in an insidious way they make this statement. Or they may take you one by one into a dark corner of a room and convey to you these things by certain innuendoes. Be ye aware! For His Holiness Christ has said that no one hides the lamp under a bushel.
The purpose is this that some people shall come before you in order to secure something in their own favor. Be ye greatly upon your guard, so that no one may infringe upon the Oneness of BAHA'O'LLAH's Cause. Praise be to God! BAHA'O'LLAH left nothing unsaid! He explained everything. He left no room for anything further to be said. Yet, still there are souls—some persons—who, for the sake of personal profit and interest, will attempt to sow the seeds of sedition. Whoever may say a thing, whoever praises an individual, ask him to give you a written proof concerning the praise he offers of that individual. Let him show you a trace from the pen of The Center of the Covenant substantiating his praise of that certain individual; otherwise, say to him that you are not allowed to give heed to the words of everyone. Say, "You may love a person today and praise him, tomorrow another, and the next day still another. We cannot afford to listen to this or that individual. Where is your document? Where is your authority from the pen of the Center of the Covenant?"
My purpose is to convey to you that it is your duty to guard the Religion of God, so that none shall be able to assail it either outwardly or inwardly. If you see injurious teachings coming from an individual, no matter who that individual may be, even though he be my own son, know ye verily that I am quit of him. If you see anyone speaking against The Covenant, even though he be my own son, know ye that I am averse to him. If a person speaks falsehoods, know ye that I am quit of him. He who covets things worldly and seeks after his own desire to accumulate the riches of this world, and is looking at the hand of the people to give him something, know ye that I am quit of such an one.
But when you see a person living up to the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH, living up to the teachings in the Hidden Words, know ye that verily I proclaim that he is of me,—know ye that he belongs to BAHA'O'LLAH. If you see anyone whose deeds and conduct are contrary to, and not in conformity with the good pleasure of the Blessed Perfection, and are not in conformity with the requirements in the Hidden Words, let that be the criterion, your standard by which to judge that person. If you find anyone opposed to the Spirit of these teachings, know ye that I am quit of him, no matter who he may be. This is the Truth.
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.
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 | No. 15 |
I have planted the Seeds in America. You must nurture them and care for them. If you do this, they will yield an abundant harvest * * * * You must arise with superhuman strength to spread the teachings for the Cause is GREAT; and whosoever shall arise in this Day to TEACH, know that he will be assisted by the Divine Concourse. This is not the day of silence! It is the day of the Proclamation of the Kingdom! It is not the day of rest. We must ACT, ACT, ACT!
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 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.
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 we must gather brick, stone, wood, iron, and other building materials! This 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 257]
VERILY, GOD hath made it incumbent upon every soul to deliver His Cause [spread The Message] according to his ability. Thus hath the Command been recorded by the Finger of Might and Power upon the Tablet of Majesty and Greatness.
Whosoever quickens one soul in this Cause is like unto one quickening all the servants and the LORD shall bring him forth in the day of resurrection* into the Rizwan [Paradise] of Oneness adorned with the Mantle of Himself, the Protector, the Mighty, the Generous!
Thus will ye assist your LORD, and naught else save this shall ever be mentioned in this Day before GOD, your LORD, and the LORD of your forefathers!
—BAHA'O'LLAH.
From The Tablet of The Branch.
*"Day of resurrection" here refers to the day of the departure or ascension of the soul from the body.[Page 258]
NOT FOUND IN THE RELIGIOUS BOOKS OF THE PAST
[Continued from page 255]In short, the purpose is that the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH are many. Were I to speak to you concerning them until morning they would not be exhausted. I have explained to you some of them. You can read the rest in the Tablets of BAHA'O'LLAH. In a word; some have asked the question as to what are the new things that BAHA'O'LLAH has taught, and were I to continue to tell you more of these new teachings the subject would not be exhausted even if I spoke all night. I therefore pray to God to strengthen you in good deeds. I pray to God to confirm you, in order that you may live in accord with the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.
Upon ye be BAHA-EL-ABHA!
O PEOPLE! The Doors of the Kingdom are opened; the Sun of Truth is shining upon the world; the Fountains of Life are flowing; the Daysprings of Mercy have appeared; the Greatest and Most Glorious Light is now manifest to illuminate the hearts of men.
Wake up and hear the Voice of GOD calling from all parts of the Supreme World—"Come unto Me, O ye children of men; come unto Me, O ye who are thirsty, and drink from this sweet Water which is descending in torrents upon all parts of the globe."
Now is the time! Now is the Accepted Time!
Look ye at the time of Christ:—had the people realized that the Holy Spirit of GOD was speaking to them through His Divine Mouth, they would not have waited three centuries before accepting Him.
And now is it meet for you that you are sleeping upon the beds of idleness and neglect, while THE FATHER, whose coming Christ foretold, has come among us, and opened the Greatest Door of Bounteous Gifts and Divine Favors?
Let us not be like those in past centuries, who were deaf to His Call, and blind to His Beauty; but let us try and open our eyes, that we may see Him; and open our ears that we may hear Him; and cleanse our hearts that He may come and abide in our temples.
These days are the days of Faith and Deeds—not the days of words and lip service: Let us arise from the sleep of negligence, and realize what a great feast is prepared for us; first eating thereof ourselves, then giving unto others who are thirsting for the Water of Knowledge, and hungering for the Bread of Life.
These Great Days are swiftly passing; and once gone they can never be recalled. So, while the Rays of the Sun of Truth are still shining and THE CENTER OF THE COVENANT OF GOD is manifest, let us go forth to work.
ABDUL-BAHA.
- Bagdadi, Chicago:
- Dec. 10th.
VOICE RECORDS OF ABDUL-BAHA may be obtained from Mrs. M. S. MacNutt, 935 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, N. Y., at 65 cents each. These are disc records and can be used upon various phonographs.
OUR PERSIAN SECTION this issue contains: (1)
Tablets to assemblies in the Orient regarding Abdul-Baha's
sojourn in America and Europe; (2) progress
of the Cause of God in Stuttgart, Germany; (3) Tablet
revealed for the "Purity Assembly" in Arasten;
(4) news from Yazd by F. F. Teerandaz; (5) the
Feast of The Center of The Covenant; (6) "Glad-tidings"—a
cablegram from Acca, Syria.[Page 259]
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Address: Najme Bakhtar, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
PAGE 1 VOL IV No 15
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