| ←Issue 3 | Star of the West Volume 4 - Issue 4 |
Issue 5→ |
 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, May 17, 1913
No. 4
Illustration: Abdul-Baha with the Bahais at Stuttgart, Germany | 66 |
Abdul-Baha at Stuttgart | 67 |
Opening of Fifth Annual Convention of Bahais in America | 69 |
Meeting the Capacity of the Seeker—By Louise D. Boyle | 70 |
Tablet from Abdul-Baha to the Friends in the Orient | 71 |
"O, My Soldiers! Forward!"—The Mashrak-el-Azkar—Harriet M. Wise | 72-73 |
Persian Section | 75-80 |
"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 (May 17, 1913) Azamat
No. 4
From notes in German sent by Margarethe Doering and M. Schweizer, Stuttgart
Translated into English by Mr. Charles Ioas, ChicagoABDUL-BAHA arrived at Stuttgart, Germany, in the evening of April 1st, 1913. The friends called the following day at the hotel, or met him in the afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Herrigel, where great numbers of people were present. All were radiant and happy, and rejoiced in his presence. When he entered he bowed to all sides and then sitting down asked, "How are you all?" after which he spoke the following words, translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab and Herrn Herrigel, and taken stenographically by M. Schweizer:—
"Praise be to God! that I have come to Stuttgart, that I could meet with you. Praise be to God! because your faces are radiant with the light of the Glory of God; your hearts are attracted to the Kingdom of ABHA. Thank God that you have heard the call of God. You are living in the day of the Lord. You are living in the days of the radiances of the Sun of Reality. The rays of this Sun have poured into your hearts and souls. Your hearts are illuminated, your inner vision clear. Your spirit rejoiced in the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. Thank God that you are the elect of God. He has elected you because of His own love. The mercies of God have surrounded you. You must live in accordance with the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH. Be loving to all mankind. Consort with all religions in amity and fragrance. You must be the cause of the education of the world of humanity. At present the world is still very dark. From one side there threatens the darkness of ignorance; from another side black enmity is visible; from the other side we hear of war and rumors of war. We must, like a candle, shine with the light of BAHA'O'LLAH, in order that through your efforts this darkness may be dispelled. The light of the love of God can illumine the East and the West. It can change hatred and enmity into love and friendship. The clouds which veil the rays of the Sun of Reality must be dispelled and made to disappear. The world must be rejuvenated. Eternal life must be made possible. The rays of the Kingdom must shine forth. The breath of the Holy Spirit can quicken the dead. I shall always pray for you and I shall supplicate for divine confirmations for each one of you, in order that ye may become more enkindled day by day, more attracted, so that each one of you will become a herald of the Kingdom. This is the eternal glory. This is the eternal life. This is the entrance into the Kingdom of God, the dominion which will last forever.
"I am very glad to be here. It is my hope that through the bounty of God you may become givers of life at this time. May God bless you all! May the blessings pour down upon you!'"
After these words Abdul-Baha went into another room, saying that all who had not met him could come to him. To those present he made a short talk, after which he arose and shook hands with all.
In the evening of April 3d, Abdul-Baha addressed a large public meeting in the upper hall of the City Museum. When he entered all arose. Happiness shone on all faces. After a short welcome Abdul-Baha spoke the following, which was translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab and Mr. Eckstein, and taken stenographically by F. R. and M. Schweizer:
"I came from a distant land. I have travelled
twenty thousand miles until I came to you in
Stuttgart. Forty years I was a prisoner. I
was young when I was put into prison and my
hair was white when the prison doors opened.
After all these long years of the sufferings of
prison life I willingly took upon myself all the
hardships of a long journey. Now I am here
in order to be united with you, in order to[Page 68]
meet you. My purpose is that perchance you
may illumine the world of humanity; that all
men may unite in perfect love and friendship;
that religious prejudices, national prejudices,
race distinctions, all may be completely abandoned.
The religions of today consist of
dogmas. Because these dogmas differ from
each other, discord and even hatred is manifest.
Religion must be the basis of all good
fellowship. Think of the turmoil that today
exists in the Balkans; how much blood is shed;
how many thousands of mothers have lost
their sons, how many children have become
orphans, and how many buildings, villages, and
cities have been destroyed! The Balkan
states have become a volcano. All this ruin
originates from the prejudices created by the
different dogmas, called forth by superstitions
and race prejudices.
"The essence of the religion of God is love, and the Holy Books bear testimony to that, for the essence of the religion of God is the light of the world of humanity; but mankind today has forgotten what constitutes true religion. Each nation and each people today hold to some definite dogma.
"Everything in the world is subject to change. But this transmutation and change are requirements of life. See, for instance, these flowers before us. They come forth from a seed. They grow to perfection, but when they have reached the state of perfection they go back again. This is the invariable law of creation. Likewise man develops until he has grown to maturity. When he reaches beyond the state of maturity he begins to decline. All religions of God are subject to this same law. They are founded in order to blossom out and develop and fulfill their mission. They reach their zenith and then decline and come to an end. So a few thousand years ago came Moses. He promulgated the ten commandments. Later these laws were changed, and this change was so complete that of the original nothing more was visible. Then God sent the Roman Empire to destroy the Holy Land, because the Jews had forgotten the law of God. They had in the end only a bundle of superstitions. When this religion had sunk to such a depth, God sent his Holiness Jesus Christ. His Holiness Christ appeared as the Light of the Sun, and He founded anew the religion of God. He revivified the light which had been given by Moses and fulfilled that law.
"This should show you that religion is subject to change. So, also, religion is full of superstition. There is today nothing more than tradition to feed upon. Therefore our souls must strive day and night in order that the foundations of divine religion may again be newly revivified. These traditions and these dogmas are like the husks surrounding the kernel. We must release the kernel from the husk. The world of humanity is in the dark. Our aim is to illumine mankind. It is natural that after the darkness of every night the brilliant day will come. It is our hope that this darkness may be dispelled and that the rays of the Sun of Reality will shine again. We are confident that the darkness will again be followed by the brightness of the day. It is our hope that after the cold winter a new spring will come, giving new life to nature, so that the trees of humanity will again sprout and become verdant in the gardens, so that they may bring forth leaves and blossoms and fruit. Thanks be to God, the illumined century has dawned. Thank God that this spiritual spring has come. Thanks be to God that the reality of all things has been revealed. This century is the century of light. This period is the period of science. This cycle is the cycle of reality. This age is the age of progress and freedom of thought. This day is the greatest day of the Lord. This time is the time of eternal life. This age is the age of the breath of the Holy Spirit. This time is the time in which all is resurrected into new life. Therefore, I desire that all may be united in harmony. Strive and work so that the standard of the world of human Oneness may be raised among men, so that the lights of universal peace may shine and the East and the West embrace, and the material world become a mirror of the Kingdom of God, that eternal light may shine forth and that the day break which will not be followed by the night.
In this age every face must turn to God, so
that spiritual enlightenment will go hand in
hand with material education. Material education
alone cannot make the world happy. Spiritual
civilization must assist the material civilization.
The men of science and philosophy
are the founders of the material education, but
His Holiness Christ was the founder of the
spiritual, divine civilization. Material civilization
serves the world of men, but the spiritual
civilization founds the world of morals. These
two kinds of civilization must go hand in hand.
The material civilization is like the lamp,
but the spiritual civilization is like the light in
the lamp. This lamp without the light is a
useless thing. Therefore, in our day philosophy[Page 69]
and science must go hand in hand with
the spiritual civilization. The material civilization
is like the body; the spiritual civilization
is like the spirit which is the
life to the body. So long as the spirit
gives life to the body, we behold a living thing,
but a body without spirit is dead. It is my
desire that ye all may reach the state of spiritual
civilization. Like as ye have made great
progress in material science, so may ye also
progress in the spiritual world. Then the
light of the Kingdom of God will shine
through all the world. May the Sun of
Reality illumine the East and the West."
Many meetings were held on April 5th. Abdul-Baha was the guest of the Esperanto Association. The president, Professor Christaller, welcomed him in appropriate words, in reply to which Abdul-Baha then addressed the gathering.
On Sunday, April 6th, Abdul-Baha addressed a large gathering at the Hotel Marquardt. In the afternoon the friends met in the garden of Consul Schwarz, where Abdul-Baha consented to be photographed with those present. He arranged the group himself. Then he had flowers distributed in order that each might have one. When he went into the automobile of Consul Schwarz, he was surrounded by the friends. The children came to him and presented flowers. It was a beautiful picture, with the children around the car.
In the evening a large meeting was held in the hall of the Upper Museum. Miss A. S. Knobloch said a prayer, Miss Staebler sang and then Consul Schwarz introduced Abdul-Baha in an eloquent speech, which we hope to have translated in the near future. Abdul-Baha then addressed those present. When he had concluded he passed through the ball and shook hands with each one. From the hall Abdul-Baha went to the home of Miss Doering.
On the 7th he visited the springs at Mergentheim with Consul Schwarz, and on the 8th departed for Budapest.
THE fifth annual Convention of the Bahai Temple Unity was opened with a breakfast given at the home of Mrs. Florian Krug, 830 Park Ave., New York, Saturday, April 26th, at 12:00 o'clock noon, to the Executive Board of the Bahai Temple Unity of nine members, and the sixteen members of the New York Committee of Arrangements. Twenty-five of those invited sat around a long, beautifully appointed table, decorated with three low mounds of gorgeous pink roses, interspersed with vases of sweet peas, while asparagus vines trailed gracefully over the white cloth.
The breakfast consisted of the dishes Abdul-Baha used to have in this home: Vegetable soup, chicken, rice, salad, ices—all perfectly prepared and served.
Mr. Kinney chanted, as all sat down. The hostess declared it to be the happiest day of her life, and certainly her radiant face, expressive of the illumined soul, confirmed the statement. To look up and down that table, at those glowing faces, was an inspiration and joy. The opportunity for conversing and exchanging ideas concerning the approaching convention; the great idea for which the building of the Mashrak-el-Azkar stands; Abdul-Baha back of it, bidding all to arise and serve, was a scene, the memory of which will remain in the minds and hearts of those present.
The hostess called upon various ones to speak and all responded appropriately, concluding with the reading of the Tablet recently sent by Abdul-Baha, concerning firmness in the Center of the Covenant.
The Executive Board went into session at two o'clock in another part of this beautiful home, while a reception, to all the visiting and resident Bahais, was held from three to five o'clock. Beautiful music, refreshments, fragrant flowers and illumined faces made everyone happy.
At half after six o'clock all repaired to Columbia University Commons where the Feast of Rizwan was celebrated by over two hundred of the friends. Beautiful music was provided, and many of those present made speeches when called upon by the presiding officer, Mr. Mountfort Mills, of New York. Abdul-Baha tells us to "Be Happy, Be Happy"! and we obeyed his injunction, and all went to their respective homes happy at the close of the first day of the Fifth Annual Convention of the Bahai Temple Unity.
- ALICE IVES BREED,
- Chairman New York Committee of Arrangements
*NOTE—This article is a forerunner of our Convention
issue, copy for which is in the hands of a committee—The
Editors.[Page 70]
ABDUL-BAHA has repeatedly referred to the various human types as differing "like flowers in the rose-garden of God." And in this day of unity and universal realization, we see clearly the necessity of recognizing the "fragrance" of all types and of according to each his opportunity of "diffusion" or expression.
In giving the world this knowledge of the Day of God, no duty impresses itself so persistently upon the Bahai as the necessity to meet the capacity of the seeker, and to realize among human beings a marked dissimilarity in approaching the teachings.
It will be only in the perspective of history that the full extent of religious decadence during the past few centuries will be realized. Around the significance of divinity there has accumulated a false atmosphere, due to our human association of it with the tangible. And it is inevitable, in the dawn of a new spiritual age, that many souls—possibly destined for a particular activity in it—should experience a reaction in turning from their old conceptions. It is this reaction, perhaps, rather than an essential incapacity or antagonism, which withholds many from a full acceptance of the Bahai teachings. Such souls represent so large a proportion of the thinking people in the world today that it is impossible to confuse their spirit with that of the anti-christ; although, undoubtedly, many of them, in searching hither and thither for truth, will permit the brief span of their lives to pass unsatisfied.
To assist all earnest inquirers to assimilate the teachings is the important privilege of Bahais today. Surely it must be such as remain in the restricted environment of dogma and self who represent the element of opposition, rather than they who have felt the new vibrations afar off and cast away tradition in an effort to approach them.
It was with particular reference to questions asked by this type of inquirer, after the receipt of recent cablegrams from AbdulBaha, that the following notes were submitted to Abdul-Baha. In returning them with interpolations he has "commanded*" that they
*In a Tablet to the writer of this article, Abdul-Baha says: "I have commanded to print and publish this article in the STAR OF THE WEST so that all the believers in the East and the West may read it."—The Editors.
be printed in the STAR OF THE WEST.
* * *
After the departure of the Báb the friends of God were in a state of utter confusion and bewilderment. "A few who claimed to be the leaders of this scattered community, fearing the loss of their lives, were hiding in remote and inaccessible villages, not daring to associate publicly with the people. The believers of God were like sheep without a shepherd; not one knew his duty." It was at such a time as this, in the extreme necessity for guidance and authority, that BAHA'O'LLAH came forth and declared Himself to be the Promised One. The perfect meeting of the demand with the supply, the need with its fulfilment, is one of the fundamental laws of God.
Now in our day Abdul-Baha has said:
"The Cause has become very great. Many souls are entering it—souls with different mentalities and range of understanding. Complex difficulties constantly rise before us. The administration of the Cause has become very difficult. Conflicting thoughts and theories attack the Cause from every side. Now consider to what extent the believers of God must become firm and soul-sacrificing. Every one 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."
He has said repeatedly:
"Today the most important affair is firmness in the Covenant because firmness in the Covenant wards off differences."
The finger of Abdul-Baha like that of a
great physician, is upon the pulse of all the
spiritual conditions forming the Kingdom of
God on earth. He knows far in advance of
any outward demonstration just what error
will manifest itself as a menace to the Cause
and a test to the believers. He knows our
hearts better than we know them ourselves
because His insight is unerring in the spiritual
realm. We live in the world and accept the
guidance of God to but a feeble and limited
degree. The heart of Abdul-Baha has always
been turned to God and thus he has been the
recipient of the holy confirmations since childhood.
We know how these holy ones possess[Page 71]
in its fullness in this day that "universal divine
mind" whose power is "conscious, not
acquired."
Man's knowledge of God and His manifestation in human form is the most profound of subjects. We are capable of considering it only through the assistance of these Holy Educators, who have given the world all its ideals, all its spiritual vocabulary.
So during his visit to America, in the full knowledge of conditions and with the utmost wisdom and insight, Abdul-Baha referred us to the proofs of his identity as the appointed Centre of the Covenant and the Greatest Branch, as a protection to us and to the Cause,—not in revocation of his standard of servitude so gloriously upraised in the world—in confirmation, rather than revocation of that most precious ensign of the Kingdom!
Since the presence of Abdul-Baha in our midst people are everywhere attracted to the teachings. It is most important that we should not make of this matter a dogma to offend. The self or ego is still so prominent in the human consciousness that the first inquiry of the groping soul for light is, "What does your leader claim for himself?" Abdul-Baha assumed the mantle of servitude to answer this very question. He stands in the midst of life today as an example, an embodiment of an ideal—the relinquishment of self. For us, his chosen friends, not to contribute to that ideal is to retard human progress.
"We must first teach the people about the LORD of the Covenant, who is His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH. When they become believers in the LORD of the Covenant, then we must explain to them the Centre of the Covenant." We must say: He claims to be the Servant of God; he is the Centre of God's Covenant with man in this day. And as the spiritual perception of the inquirer expands in contact with the teachings the great station of Abdul-Baha will unfold to him.
"In giving the teachings we must not mention the violators of the Covenant and thus render their acceptance difficult." In sharing this foreknowledge with the friends. Abdul-Baha has made us partners, as it were, with himself, has assumed that we are superior to evil suggestion, and that we will know how to use this knowledge most judiciously to protect the Cause.
Let us pray that we may so fully accept the Divine Guidance in every act of life that in the moment of test and difficulty we may stand as pillars of wisdom and strength in the Cause of God, firm in the Centre of the Covenant, and, like Abdul-Baha himself, manifest toward all mankind the utmost tenderness, for only in this way may we lead them into the Kingdom.
O FRIENDS of GOD! O spiritual companions!
The Lord of the peoples of the world declares in the beneficent Koran: "And there is for you in the Prophet of God a good example": That is to say, to follow His Holiness is a good example and to imitate that Real Leader is the means of acquiring success in both of the worlds. The followers of the Prophet were commanded to follow Him in all affairs and manners, and when some individuals, having recognized this safe path as the Straight Road, traveled therein, they became Kings in the Land of the Righteous and the Kingdom of the Elect. And those souls who tried to acquire comfort with ease, deprived themselves of all bounties and perished in the lowest ditch of despair. Their days came to an end and their happiness terminated. Their bright morn became dark, and their transparent cup became full of dregs and rust. Their uprising star descended, and their bright luminary set.
But those pure souls who followed (in the footsteps of the Prophet) shone in the Highest Horizon as the Stars of Guidance and arose from the Dawning-place of hopes with matchless brilliancy. They sat on the Throne of the Kingdom of Eternity and rested on the couch of Divine Success. Their traces are clear and their lights brilliant; their star is luminous and their attendants are the armies of angels of the Heavens of Immortality. Their palace is firm and their edifice is strong. Their light is illumining the world and their heat is confirming the world.
Now judge for yourselves: Those souls who followed in the wake of that Manifest Light acquired such bounties and stations! If we now follow in the footsteps of the Most Glorious Beauty (BAHA'O'LLAH) and the most Exalted Majesty (the Bab)—may my
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 Chicago (May 17, 1913) Azamat No. 4
WHILE Abdul-Baha was one day looking out of his hotel window he observed a regiment of soldiers passing by in great array, and he said:
"They are ready to fight for their fatherland. How barbarous it seems to send men, who do not even know each other, to the battlefield in order to shoot each other down.
"The Bahai Grand Army consists of the invisible angels of the Supreme Concourse. Our swords are the Words of Light. Our armament is the armament of heaven. We are fighting against the forces of darkness.
"O, my soldiers! My beloved soldiers! Forward! Forward! Have no fear of defeat—do not have failing hearts. Our Supreme Commander is BAHA'O'LLAH. From the heights of Glory He is directing this dramatic engagement. He commands us! Rush forward! Rush Forward! Show the strength of your arms. Ye shall scatter the forces of ignorance!
"Your war confers Life; their war brings death. Your war is the cause of the illumination of all mankind; their war means the breaking and darkness of hearts. Your war means victory upon victory; their war is defeat upon defeat. Your war is the means of construction; their war is the origin of destruction.
"There are no dangers before you. Push forward! Push forward! Attack the enemy! Your efforts shall be crowned with the diadem of Eternal Peace and Brotherhood.
"His Holiness the Christ was fighting even upon the Cross, and His triumphant work continued through ages and cycles."
"THE believers must display an endeavor so that the land may be bought in its entirety; then collect contributions for the building and then they may think about the plans. . . . I hope from the favor of the True One, that sufficient and ample contributions may be gathered and afterward the best and most acceptable plans be decided upon."
"Now it is hoped that the believers of God may show magnanimity and raise a great sum for the building, so that the FOUNDATION of the Mashrak-el-Azkar may be laid and perchance, God willing, the corner stone of the foundation may be laid by the hand of Abdul-Baha."—Words of Abdul-Baha.
* * *
The morning Abdul-Baha left Chicago, on
the occasion of his last visit, he instructed the
National Secretary of the Bahai Temple Unity
to the effect that the remaining debt on the[Page 73]
lake shore tract of the Temple land should be
cleared as soon as possible—the main tract
being entirely paid for.
In compliance with this instruction and in order to remove all obstacles that prevent the accomplishment of the decree of Abdul-Baha, revealed in the foregoing, the recent Convention of the Bahai Temple Unity voted to make every effort to raise the $9,000 still due on the land, with the interest to accrue, by September 1st, the date of the next payment.
A friend of the Cause has offered $1,000 conditional upon the remaining debt of $9,000 upon the land being paid, principal and interest, when it falls due, September 1st. As a means of encouraging further contributions, an additional offer to add $100 to every thousand which may be contributed in excess of that amount (up to $20,000) has been made by the same friend.
This offer bore immediate results, for when it was announced another friend offered to add another hundred to the above hundred, so that to each thousand dollars which may be contributed in excess of the amount necessary for the cancellation of our debt, 20 per cent will be added. WE MUST NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY. Let EVERY ONE of us unite to the limit of our opportunity to secure this 20 per cent to the full amount of their $20,000 additional offer, and to then show such energy that Abdul-Baha may be speedily attracted to return to America for the dedication of the Mashrak-el-Azkar, which he has repeatedly stated is THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK in America today.
The members of the present Executive Board hope results may enable them to undertake actual operations before their term of office expires one year hence.
- BAHAI TEMPLE UNITY,
- Corinne True, Financial Secretary.
ON the morning of April 1st, at Hermosa Beach, California, our dear sister Harriet M. Wise ascended to the Supreme Concourse. For a long time she had been a patient sufferer, but her life was prolonged that she might taste the sweetness of the past year, when, in July, with Mrs. Goodall and Mrs. Cooper, of Oakland, she spent several glorious days in the presence of the Center of the
Covenant. She came home radiant in spirit but sick in body, and steadily declined in health.
During the last few days of her illness when asked what message she would send to one of the friends, she said: "It is all so glorious!"
BAHA'O'LLAH tells us that He has made death as glad-tidings, so the shattering of the cage which encased her beautiful spirit should not make us sorrowful. We rejoice spiritually, but the human heart has its portion of grief, for the Los Angeles Bahai Assembly has parted with one of the sweetest flowers of its garden. We submit to the Divine Decree without a question—just "radiant acquiescence."
A Bahai service, conducted by Mrs. Winterburn, was held in Pasadena on Saturday afternoon, April 5th, and on Sunday following a memorial service, conducted by Mrs. Frankland, was held at the hall in Los Angeles.
The remains will be taken to the old home at Akron, Ohio, for interment.
Henrietta C. Wagner.
O thou who hast turned thy face towards the Kingdom!
I read what thou hadst written. Know thou that there is in the world of existence a Center, for each great matter, and bounties shower from that Center. For instance, in the circle of the sun, the sun is the center of the light. Likewise there is a real Center for pure Love and now that Center is manifest in this world, from which the Lights of Love reflect to all parts of the Universe. If thou partake but one ray from that Center, thou wouldst become self-sufficient from the world, finding a new condition and witnessing an exaltation which overshadows all the existence. Pray God that thou mayest catch with all thy exertion the Lights of the Love from that Center.
Upon thee be greetings and praise!
- (Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
September 5, 1905.[Page 74]
life be a sacrifice for those who suffered martyrdom in their path—what would be the result?
His Exalted Majesty (the Bab), from the beginning of the arising of His Beauty to the day of the Greatest Martyrdom, spent days and nights under severest trials, in the Path of God; He made His breast a target for thousands of arrows of calamities, and with a breast pierced and torn, hastened to the Most Glorious Kingdom.
The Eternal Beauty—the Greatest Name (BAHA'O'LLAH)—tasted of the poison of every calamity, drank of the cup brimful of all kinds of trials, made His breast the target for every arrow, made His neck indebted to every sword. He was incarcerated in a prison and was bound in merciless chains. He was exposed to the derision of the crowds of enemies and became a butt for the stones of miscreants. He was subjected to chains and collars, and was tightly bound with ropes and fetters. He was exiled from His native land and was carried to the land of Bulgers and Serbs. In the Most Great Prison (Acca) He suffered inexorable calamities and His blessed days ended in this cruel prison and dark dungeon, while a prisoner of oppression and injustice, and He ascended to His Kingdom.
Now, O faithful friends and companions of that Bright Countenance! Is it becoming that we should sit idle, even for one moment, practice delay, and seek ease and comfort, so that we be exposed to temptation and indolence, be occupied with our own thoughts and lose our hearts to strangers and kindred? Nay, by God, we ought not to rest for one moment day nor night; we ought not to pollute our pure hearts with the attachment to this world; we must prepare Divine Assemblies, establish Feasts of Love, sing the melody of the Most Glorious Kingdom, accompanied with stringed instruments and with drums and flutes; hasten, dancing and laughing with joy, to the altar of martyrdom, and offer body and soul, head and trunk, as a sacrifice!
O friends, be loyal!
O beloved ones, be firm and steadfast!
O imploring ones, trust in God and rely upon Him!
O humble ones, be attached to God and cling to Him!
Let us encourage each other and set all in motion. Let us strive to diffuse the Fragrance of God and engage ourselves in exalting the Word of God!
Let us ever be alert through the influence of the gentle breeze wafted from the Garden of Favor, and enjoy the Sweet Fragrance of the Garden of Unity!
Let us put enthusiasm and commotion into the hearts of the righteous, and excitement and joy into the hearts of the free!
Praise be to God, that the hosts of the Most Glorious Kingdom are coming together in large numbers and the Stars of the Highest Horizon are in uprising and ascension! The Banner of Guidance is in motion, the Cloud of Bounty is descending in a shower, and the Luminary of the Horizon of Significance is shining! The Feast and the enjoyment of the Kingdom are in complete harmony, and the Dawn of Favor is breaking with the Light of Guidance! It is the Melody of the Kingdom of ABHA which is descending from the Supreme Concourse, saying:
O dead one, who art without heart and soul! Become alive! Become alive!
O sleeping one, in the water and clay! Be awake! Be awake!
O intoxicated one, who art witless and gone astray! Become sensible! Become sensible!
The horizons are full of fragrance! The eyes are full of light and the East is pouring down fire! Get rid of body and soul!
The time of sacrifice has come; the Merciful Breath abounds and the Divine Secrets are disclosed! Be a leader of lovers! Be a leader!
The sweet song of the melodious singing bird from the BRANCH of the Cypress Tree in the Garden is expounding the problems of spirituality! Be acquainted with the mysteries! Be acquainted with the mysteries!
- ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Translated in 1909.
OUR PERSIAN SECTION this issue
contains: (1) Talk by Abdul-Baha delivered
in Boston; (2) article by Mr. Arthur
Cuthbert, "The Glad-tidings of the holy Cause
of BAHA'O'LLAH; (3) news from Budapest—
(4) from Vienna—(5) from Stuttgart—by
Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; (6) letter from Rasht
by Mirza Ismail Khan; (7) graduation of
Dr. M. I. Basheer, at Chicago.[Page 75]
نجم باختر 1329 . جمادی الاوّل سنه1321
جلد چهارم . شماره چهارم . از شیکاغو امریکا
فهرست مندرجات
1 . نطق مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در حضور انجمن آزاد امریک در بوستن .
2 . خطابۀ مستر آرتور کثبرت در بشارت امر اقدس حضرت بهاء الله .
3 . اخبار جهان از بوداپست بقلم آقا میرزا احمد سهراب .
4 . اخبار ارومیّه بقلم آقا میرزا احمد سهراب .
5 . اخبار اشتوتگارت بقلم آقا میرزا احمد سهراب .
6 . اخبار از رشت بقلم آقا میرزا اسمعیل خان .
7 . اخبار از شیکاغو بقلم جناب دکتر بشیر پسر ابراهیم افندی علی .
آدرس : نجم باختر صندوق پستی 283 شیکاگو ایلینوی . ایالات متّحدۀ امریکا .
Address: Najme Bakhtar, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
PAGE 1 VOL. IV No 4
جلد چهارم . شماره چهارم نجم باختر1329 قیمت اشتراک 1 دالر سالی 12 قران
می 17
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 انتشارعلوم 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 قبوی و نشر خواهد گردید
صفحه 1 - 1
خطابۀ مبارک
خطابۀ مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء که در حضور انجمن آزاد ادیان امریک در فرد هال روز جمعه 25 می سنه 1912 ساعت سه بعد از ظهر در شهر بوستن :
ادیان الهیّه بجهة محبّت بین بشر نازل شده بجهت الفت نازل شده بجهت وحدت عالم انسانی نازل شده ولی افسوس که صاحبان ادیان نور را به ظلمت مخلوط کرده اند هریک پیغمبری را ضدّ دیگری میشمارند مثلا یهودیان مسیح را ضدّ موسی میدانند مسیحیان حضرت زردشت را ضدّ مسیح میدانند بودائیان حضرت زردشت را ضدّ بودا میدانند و کلّ حضرت محمّد را ضدّ جمیع میدانند و جمیع منکر حضرت باب و حضرت بهاء الله و حال آنکه این بزرگواران مبدئشان یکی است مقصدشان یکی است و جمیع متّحد و متّفقند اساس تعالیمشان یکی است حقیقت شریعتشان یکی است جمیع بیک خدا تبلیغ کردند و جمیع شریعت یک خدا را ترویج کردند مثلا حضرت زردشت پیغمبری بود بر مذاق حضرت مسیح تماما و هیچ تفاوتی در بین تعالیمشان نیست و همچنین تعالیم بودا ابدا مخالفت با تعالیم حضرت مسیح ندارد و همچنین سائر انبیا این نفوس مبارکه مبدئشان یکی بود شریعتشان یکی بود تعالیمشان یکی بود ولکن یا اسفا
صفحه 2 - 1
که بعد از آن تقالیدی در میان آمد و آن تقالید سبب اختلاف شد زیرا این تقالید حقیقت نبود اوهام بود و بکلیّ مخالف شریعت مسیح و بر ضدّ تعالیم و نوامیس الهی و چون مخالف بود سبب نزاع و جدال گشت در حالتیکه ادیان باید با یکدیگر نهایت الفت داشته باشند نهایت اختلاف را پیدا کرده اند عوض آنکه دلجوئی از همدیگر نمایند به قتال برخواسته اند عوض آنکه تعاون و تعاضد یکدیگر کنند به محاربه با یکدیگر پرداخته اند این است که عالم انسانی از بدایتش تا الآن راحت نیافته همیشه بین ادیان نزاع و جدال بوده و جنگ و قتال بوده اگر نظر به حقیقت آنها کنید شب و روز گریه نمائید زیرا امرالله را که اساس محبّت است اسباب مخالفت کرده اند زیرا شریعت الله مانند علاج است و اگر در محلّ خود صرف شود سبب شفاء است ولکن یا اسفا که این علاجها در دست طبیب غیر حاذق بود علاجی که سبب شفا گردد سبب مرض شد عوض آنکه سبب حیات باشد سبب ممات شد عوض آنکه سبب نورانیّت شود سبب ظلمانیّت شد زیرا این علاجها در دست طبیب غیر حاذق افتاد حیات نبخشد و از علاجش ثمری حاصل نگردد بلکه سبب ممات شود . حضرت بهاء الله شصت سال پیش در ایران ظاهر شد و در آن مملکت در میان ادیان و مذاهب و اجناس نهایت بغض و عداوت حاصل بود بدرجۀ که رؤسای یکدیگر را سبّ ولعن میکردند و جمیع خون یکدیگر را میخوردند حضرت بهاء الله
صفحه 1 - 2
اعلان وحدت عالم انسان کرد و اعلان نمود که دین باید اسباب محبّت و الفت شود و سبب حیات باشد اگر دین سبب عداوت باشد عدمش بهتر از وجود آن است زیرا مقصد محبّت بین بشر است چون از دین عداوت بین بشر حاصل شود البّته معدوم باشد بهتر است همچنین حضرت بهاء الله اعلان نمود که باید دین مطابق علم باشد علم حقیقت است و دین حقیقت است و ممکن نیست که در حقیقت اختلاف پیدا شود و اگر مسئلۀ از مسائل دینیّه مخالف عقل و علم باشد آن وهم محض است ابدا اساس ندارد زیرا ضدّ علم جهل است مخالف عقل نادانی است و این مثل آفتاب روشن است عالم بشر در ظلّ خداوند اکبر است جمیع بندگان خدا هستند جمیع در سایۀ بحر الهی راحت نموده اند خدا کلّ را خلق کرده جمیع را رزق میدهد جمیع را تربیت میفرماید جمیع را حفظ مینماید مادامیکه او بجمیع مهربان است ما چرا نامهربان باشیم خدا جمیع بندگانش را دوست میدارد ما چرا بغض و دشمنی نمائیم خدا با کلّ صلح است ما چرا به جنگ و جدال مشغول شویم خدا ما رابرای محبّت و اخوّت خلق کرده نه برای دشمنی خدا ما را برای صلح و سلام خلق نموده و نه جنگ و جدال این چنین صفات رحمانی را چرا به صفات شیطانی تبدیل نمائیم چنین نورانیّت را چرا به ظلمت مقاومت کنیم چنین محبّت الهی را چرا با عداوت مقابله کنیم شش هزار سال است که باهم منازعه و مخاصمه مینمودیم حال در این قرن نورانی باید محبّت و دوستی بهمدیگر نمائیم امروز عداوت و بغضاء عظیمی در بین ادیان است آیا از اینها چه ثمری حاصل شده چه فائده از برای بشر مرتبّ گردیده آیا این کفایت نیست این عصر عصر نورانی است این عصری است که از این اوهام باید آزاد گردیم این عصری است که باید خصومت و بغضاء محو شود این عصری است که باید ادیان یک دین گردند مذاهب متّحد شوند و با محبّت و خوشی با همدیگر الفت جویند زیرا جمیع بنده یک خداوندیم از یک رحمت عظمی بوجود آمده ایم از یک شمس نورانی شده ایم از
صفحه 2 - 2
یک روح حیات یافته ایم نهایت این است یکی مریض است باید بنهایت مهربانی معالجه نمود یکی جاهل است باید تعلیم کرد یکی طفل است باید تربیت نمود تا شمس اخوّت آسمانی این ابرهای تاریک را پراکنده نماید نباید کسی را مبغوض دانست نباید به کسی تعرّض نمود جمیع پدرانند جمیع مادرانند جمیع برادرانند جمیع خواهرانند اتّحادی را که خداوند موجود نموده نباید ماها سبب انفصال آن گردیم بنیانی را که خدا برای محبّتش نهاده خراب نکنید مقاومت ارادۀ الهی ننمائید پیروی سیاست الهی نمائید بموجب آن حرکت کنید البّته سیاست الهی مافوق سیاست انسان است زیرا هرقدر سیاست انسان ترقیّ نماید کامل نیست امّا سیاست الهیّه کامل است ما باید از سیاست الهیّه اقتباس کنیم هر نوعی که خدا با بندگان خود معامله می کند همان نوع رفتار نمائیم اقتدا بخدا کنیم ما مشاهده میکنیم آثار باهرۀ او را ما مشاهده میکنیم حکمت او را مشاهده می کنیم رحمت او را مشاهده می کنیم قوّت و قدرت او را باید دست از اوهامات و تقالید برداریم و تمسّک بحقّ جوئیم و از اختلاف و افتراق اجتناب کنیم معاذالله هرگز انبیای الهی باین راضی نبودند انبیای الهی جمیع یک روح بودند بجمیع بشر یک تعلیم دادند و تعلیمات انبیای الهی روح محض است حقیقت محض است محبّت محض است الفت محض است پس ما باید متابعت انبیای الهی کنیم .
بشارت امر اقدس حضرت بهاء الله
خطبۀ جناب مستطاب مستر آرثور کشبرت علیه بهاء الله که بتاریخ 27 نومبر 1912 در حضور جمع کثیری از نجبا و اعیان انگلستان قرائت نمودند و این عبد و خادم احبّای الهی یوحنّا داود مختصرا از برای آگاهی یاران شرق به فارسی ترجمه نمود .
شکر و سپاس فراوان خدای را سزاست که هریک از افراد
صفحه 1 - 3
انسان را به تشریف دانش و بینش بحدّ استعداد شرف اختصاص کرامت فرمود که هر فردی از افراد بنی بشر شخصا به تفتیش هر مسئله از مسائل الهیّه قیام نماید و پس از تحقیق آنچه حقیقت است بدون تعصّب قبول نماید و مانند کوران و بی دانشان عمر گرانمایه را به تقلید دیگران تلف ننماید ، بشارت امر اقدس جمال مبارک و ندای عالمگیر حضرت عبدالبهاء روحی لتراب اقدام احبّائه الفداء ازبرای یگانگی و اتّحاد امم مختلفه و رفاهیّت عالم انسانی است ، این ندای الهی از شرق رسیده و الحمدلله در جمیع ممالک متمدّن غرب شنیده شده و نفوس مبارکه از هر ملتّ و مذهب بگوش هوش استماع نموده اند و مجلس و محافل متعدّده تشکیل نموده که در آنجا دوستان با کمال دل و جان به ترتیل آیات سماوی و تعالیم رحمانی مشغولند و از برای وحدت عالم انسانی دعا نمایند بهائیان را جز وحدت و یگانگی عالم انسانی مقصدی نیست دعایشان بر رفع جنگ و جدال است و امیدواریشان اینکه اشراق شمس معانی که در این قرن نورانی آدم و عالم را روشن و منوّر فرموده جمیع ساکنان شرق و غرب جنوب و شمال عالم را نورانی و رحمانی فرماید و بزودی صلح عمومی بین تمام ملل و مذاهب عالم که رضای حضرت یزدان است تأسیس و مستدام گردد ای برادر من آیا تو هنوز باین نور منوّر شده یا هنوز سحاب اوهام ظلمانی مانعست از خدا طلبم که هریک از شماها مانند آئینۀ پاک از آفتاب حقیقت اخذ نور و حرارت نمائید و دیگران را هم منوّر و منجذب فرمائید امر حضرت بهاء الله اینست که این بندگان باقوال درست و اعمال حسنه سبب هدایت و بهتری و ترقیّ خلق عالم گردیم اعمال نیکو نتیجۀ کلیّ بخشد اگرچه هر انسان را اقوال درست و پسندیده واجبست و لازم هرچه بیشتر قلب را از تعصّبات دینی و دنیوی پاک و طاهر کنیم زیادتر نور حقیقت و آفتاب قدرت در آن درخشان گردد و ما را در نزد خدا و انسان تابان گرداند اینست تمدّن روحانی و سبب رفاهیّت خود و کافّه بنی نوع
صفحه 2 - 3
انسانی پس بیائید تا با قلوب طاهر و ایمان قوی بخدمت عالم انسانی قیام نمائیم
آیا این امر عظیم بقوّۀ انسانی ممکن است یا میتوان بقوّۀ سیاسی ترویج داد؟ هر منصفی انصاف دهد که ممکن نبوده و نخواهد بود پس آن چه قوّۀ است که سبب ترقیّ حقیقی و آسایش عالم انسانی است ؟ آن قوّۀ روح القدس است که انسان خاکی را ملک آسمانی فرماید شخص جسمانی را آدم روحانی نماید ذلیل را جلیل نماید و فقیر را غنی کند چنانچه حضرت مسیح میفرماید که نفحات روح القدس آخرین و پست ترین را اوّلین فرماید اگرچه هرآنکس هم مقاومت و ضدیّت این قوّۀ الهیّه نماید ولو اینکه اوّلین و جلیل ترین باشد پست ترین گردد . دین بهائی دین الهیست دین عموم ملل و مذاهب عالم است اگر قدری در تعالیم این امر عظیم تفکرّ فرمائید خود انصاف دهید که فی الحقیقه همچنین است زیرا تعالیم این امر جمیع تعالیم و اوامر ادیان الهی است و محبّت محض است مبشّر این امر مبرم حضرت باب است و مؤسّس آن حضرت بهاء الله است و مروّج آن حضرت عبدالبهاء است که بعضی از شما در این شهر لندن زیارت نمودید و شاید هم بگوش خود شنیدید آنچه را که تا کنون شنیده نشده است ! کلماتشان قوّۀ عظیمی و نفوذ غریبی دارد چندی نگذشته است که این امر مشهور آفاق شده و در جمیع ممالک و شهرهای عالم بهائیان یافت میشوند و هریک به تمام دل و جان بخدمت و وحدت عالم انسانی مشغولند هرکس را دوست دارند و از برای بد خواهان خود دعای خیر نمایند و کلّ عالم به صلح اکبر دعوت نمایند الحقّ این قوّه قوّۀ الهیست و نفحات جانبخش روح القدس است هریک از این انبیاء عاری از علوم و فنون انسانی بوده و هستند آنچه فرمایند از روح القدس است هرگاه ترویج این امر عظیم به قوّۀ علم انسانی یا تدابیر عقلاء و حکماء عصر و یا به صرف مخازن
صفحه 1 - 4
عالم بود یقینا اهل یوروپ و آمریک بهتر قادر بودند بلی این از خداست و در نظر ما که از او دوریم بسیار عجیب می نماید .
حضرت باب را در تبریز شهید کردند و حضرت بهاء الله و عبدالبهاء را از طهران خارج بلد نمودند اوّل در بغداد د بعد در اسلانبول و بعد در ادرنه و بالأخره در زندان عکّا که جای قطّاع الطریق و قاتلین عثمانی بود فرستادند این محلّ بد آب و هوا ترین جائی بود گویند که اگر پرنده در هوای عکّا طیران نمود فورا بمیرد هوایش آن قدر بد بوده لکن پس از چندی تغییر یافت و بهتر گردید خلاصه اغلب متعصّبین برای اطفای این نور عظیم برخواستند امّا منتشر و مشهورتر گشت و هزاران نفوس به نفثات روح القدس خلق و تربیت شدند که هریک به افعال درست و اقوال صدق سبب تربیت دیگران گردیده اند و به منتهای نتیجۀ علم واصل گشته چه که مقصد از تحصیل علوم و تهذیب اخلاق و اعمال و اقوال شخص است و فائده مند بودن از برای همنوع خود معانی تعالیم حضرت بهاء الله و نصایح حضرت عبدالبهاء آن وقت جلوه گر شود که که شخص به دقّت کامل در هر مطلبی از آن مطالب غور نماید و با مقتضیّات امروزه تطبیق کند بلاشکّ انصاف دهد که این تعالیم آسمانی دوای درد این زمان است و باعث ترقیّ و برتری هر ملتّی که به ترویج و تصدیق و انتشار آن بتمام دل و جان قیام فرمایند .
جوهر تعالیم این امر عظیم محبّت و عرفان الهی است و خیر محض و صلح عمومی و وحدت عالم انسانی است چنانچه میفرماید : « ای اهل رضوان من نهال محبّت و دوستی شما را در روضۀ قدس رضوان به ید ملاطفت غرس نمودم و به نیسان مرحمت آبش دادم حال نزدیک به ثمر رسیده جهدی نمائید تا محفوظ ماند و به نار امل و شهوت نسوزد » ایضا « اصل کلّ الخیر هو الاعتماد علی الله و الانقیاد لامره و الرضاء بمرضاته » ایضا « ای
صفحه 2 - 4
پسران دانش چشم سر را پلک به آن نازکی از دیدن جهان و آنچه در اوست بی بهره نماید دیگر پرده آز اگر بر چشم دل فرود آید چه خواهد نمود؟
ای دوستان امروز باب آسمان به مفتاح اسم الهی گشوده و بحرجود امام وجوه ظاهر و موّاج و آفتاب عنایت مشرق و لایح خود را محروم ننمائید و عمر گرانمایه را بقول این و آن تمام نکنید کمر همّت محکم نمائید و در تربیت اهل عالم توجّه کنید دین الهی را سبب اختلاف و ضغینه و بغضا ندانید لسان عظمت میفرماید : آنچه از سماء مشیّت در این ظهور امنع اقدس نازل مقصود اتّحاد عالم و محبّت و وداد اهل آن بوده باید اهل بهاء که از رحیق معانی نوشیده اند بکمال روح و ریحان با اهل عالم معاشرت نمایند و ایشان را متذکرّ دارند بآنچه که نفع آن به کلّ راجع است این است وصیّت مظلوم اولیا و اصفیای خود را عالم به محبّت خلق شده و کلّ به وداد و اتّحاد مأمورند باین کلمۀ مبارکه که از افق فم سلطان احدیّه اشراق نموده ناظر باشید و ذکر نمائید « کنت فی قدم ذاتی و ازلیّة کینونتی عرفت حبّی فیک فخلقتک و القیت علیک امثالی و اظهرت لک جمالی » ایضا میفرماید عروس معانی بدیعه که ورای پرده های بیان مستور و پنهان بود به عنایت الهی و الطاف ربّانی چون شعاع منیر جمال دوست ظاهر و هویدا شد شهادت میدهم ای دوستان که نعمت تمام و حجّت کامل و برهان ظاهر و دلیل ثابت آمد دیگر تا همّت شما از مراتب انقطاع چه ظاهر نماید کذلک تمّت النقمة علیکم و علی من فی السموات و الارضین و الحمدلله ربّ العالمین
اخبار جهان
از بوداپست . بقلم آقا میرزا احمد سهراب :
به تاریخ 15 آوریل سنه 1913 . حال هفت روز است که شمس مرکز میثاق از افق بوداپست پایتخت مجارستان طالع و لائح و مجالس و محافل عظیمه هر شب و هر روز منعقد
صفحه 1 - 5
مجلسی چند شب قبل منعقد شد در تالار پارلمان مجرستان و اعضای انجمن اسپرانتو و انجمن صلح و انجمن حقوق نسوان و انجمن شرقیّون و نفوس کثیره حاضر بودند و بی نهایت از خطابۀ مبارک در این مسائل اظهار سرور و فرح نمودند و دست بدست زدند رئیس مجلس کشیش محترم دین کاتولیکی بود و حضرت مولی الوری را در نهایت احترام استقبال و معرّفی نمود به عباراتی که فصیح تر از آن امکان نیست و همچنین مجالس دیگر بواسطۀ انجمن توراتیان و تئوزوفیها منعقد گردید که بی نهایت آثار عظمت و قدرت مرکز میثاق واضح و نمایان بود . حال فردا بعد از ظهر عازم وینه پایتخت مملکت اطریش هستیم چند روزی در آنجا توقفّ نموده بعد دوباره به استوتگارت و بادن بادن محلّ ییلاق مشهور آلمان رفته رجعت به پاریس نموده پس از چند روز توقفّ در آنجا عازم شرق خواهند شد
از وینه به تاریخ 20 آوریل سنه 1913
الحمدلله و المنّه که دیشب مرکز میثاق ارواحنا لقیامه الفداء در نهایت صحّت و سلامت از شهر بوداپست وارد وینه گشتند و در این هتل « گراند هتل » منزل گرفته امروز رئیس و منشی انجمن تئوزوفیها بحضور مبارک مشرّف شده امشب را وعده گرفته اند که در محفل آنها خطبۀ اداء گردد و همچنین شب دوشنبه حضرت مولی الوری چند روزی در این شهر توقفّ خواهند فرمود تا نفحات جنّت ابهی بخوبی و خوشی در میان ناس انتشار یابد زیرا در این شهر مانند بوداپست انوار ملکوت ابهی نتابیده بود فی الحقیقه در شهرهائی که مجامع بهائی نیست از جهتی نفوذ امرالله واضح تر و عظیم تر است زیرا آنچه تهیّه و تدارک میشود و آنچه تعریف و توصیف میگردد بواسطۀ خارجه ها است پس از چند روزی در این شهر توقفّ عازم استوت گارت خواهند گشت .
از استوتگارت بتاریخ 1 می سنه 1913
صفحه 2 - 5
الحمدلله یک هفته که در شهر استوتگارت مانده مجالس عظمی برپا شد و امرالله منتشر گردید و نفحات قدس بمشام دور و نزدیک رسید الآن ساعت ده صبح است و بقدر صد و پنجاه نفر از احبّاء در هتل آمده که خداحافظ بکنند . همهمه و غلغله ای است .
نجم باختر : بنازم به بازوی عبدالبهاء .
ایران
مکتوب از وکیل نجم باختر در رشت آقا میرزا اسمعیل خان بتاریخ غرّۀ جمادی الاوّل سنه 1331 :
وکالتا از جانب جمیع مشترکین نجم باختر تبریک و تهنیت سال چهارم نجم باختر را ازصمیم قلب اظهار نموده دوام و قوام و زیادی اشعۀ آن روزنامۀ بهائی را از خدا خواهانیم و هر چندی که تا کنون اعداد مشترکین تا 37 نفر رسیده ولی برای سال چهارم امیدوارم اعداد مشترکین بیشتر گردد لذا از آن ادارۀ محترمه خواهشمندم که از نمرۀ اوّل امسال تقریبا شصت نمره برای رشت فرستاده شود .
نجم باختر . ماهم امیدواریم که امسال عدد حضرات مشترکین در جمیع بلاد ایران اقلا دو برابر شود .
از شیکاغو
جناب دکتور بشیر
برادر عزیز و رفیق محترم آقای بشیر افندی پسر ابرهیم افندی علی در پورت سعید فارغ التحصیل شدند و در 19 این ماه دیپلوم طبّ و جراحت خواهند گرفت و شاید در فصل پائیز به شرق مراجعت خواهند نمود .
نجم باختر : ازصمیم فؤاد به جناب دکتور بشیر تبریک و تهنیت مینماید . دکتور ضیاء بغدادی
