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STAR OF THE WEST
"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. VI Kudrat 1, 71 (November 4, 1915) No. 13
Addresses by Abdul-Baha delivered at Washington, D. C.
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT A BAHAI BANQUET, RAUSCHER'S HALL, NOVEMBER 9, 1912.
Dr. Ameen U. Fareed, interpreter; stenographic notes by Mr. Joseph H. Hannen.
I FEEL a keen sense of joy in being present at this banquet this evening. For—praise be to God!—I see before me countenances which are radiant; ears which hear, which hearken to the melodies of the supreme concourse; hearts which are set aglow with the fire of the love of God; spirits which are exhilarated through the glad-tidings of God; souls sheltered beneath the overshadowing power of the Kingdom of Abha. I see before me here an assemblage of souls who are of the "chosen" and not of the "many called." And it is my hope that through the favors of Baha'o'llah he may keep all of you attracted to his Kingdom; that he may render you victorious in your service to the oneness and solidarity of men. May he assist all of those who are firm in establishing the unity and the oneness of the inhabitants of this earth. May all of you thereby become my partners and co-sharers in servitude.
Supplication
O Lord! Confirm and aid this assemblage. Confirm these souls through the breaths of Thy holy spirit. Enlighten the eyes by witnessing these radiant lights, and render the ears happy through Thy anthems and Thy summons. O God! Verily we have gathered here in the utmost of love. We have turned to Thy Kingdom. We seek naught save Thee, and desire naught save Thy good pleasure! O God! Let this food be Thy manna from heaven, and this assemblage to be a concourse of Thy supreme ones. May they be the cause of love to humanity and the source of illumination to the human race. May they be the instruments of guidance upon the earth. For verily Thou art Powerful, Thou art the Giver, Thou art the Forgiver and Thou art the Almighty!
After anointing and serving
In the world there have been organized many banquets, assemblages or meetings. There have been many banquets held; but those assemblages have gathered either for commercial purposes or have met in commemoration of political achievements. Meetings have been held for financing certain plans or for the promulgation of certain scientific accomplishments. They have been held to establish agricultural industries or for territorial agreements. Many are the assemblages which have been held in the world for consultation upon subjects of learning and education. These meetings have had for their object the advancement of civilization. But—
praise be to God!—this banquet and this assemblage are for no other purpose than love; for the purpose of showing forth the Kingdom; for manifestation of the traces of God; for reflecting the effulgences of the Kingdom of God; for connecting the hearts together; for service to the world of humanity; for the promulgation of humanitarianism and altruism; for promoting and advocating international peace; for the illumination of the world at large. Therefore such an assemblage as this is matchless, peerless, because every other assemblage is held for a limited object, for a personal reason, whereas this meeting is for God and God only; for the love of God. It is for the love of the hearts of men. It is for the oneness of the world of humanity. So it behooves us to offer thanks to God, for He has confirmed us in attaining hereto. He has suffered us to be servants of the world of humanity, to be advocates of universal peace amongst the religions; to herald universal peace amongst the races; to establish universal peace amongst the nations and all peoples.
It is my fervent, fond hope through the favor of God that this present meeting may be instrumental in ushering in the day when the standard of the oneness of the world of humanity shall be held aloft in America. May it be the first real foundation of Universal Peace. May it have for its object universal service to man. May it be divine philanthropy to humanity. May it never observe any distinctions or differentiations. May you consider all the religions as the servers of God, and may you regard all the races as avenues of God's Manifestations. May you know humankind to be the sheep of God, and may you know for a certainty that God is the real Shepherd of all. Consider how this kind and tender Shepherd most gently cares for all His flock; how He leads them to green pastures and beside the still waters; and how well He protects them! Verily this real Shepherd observes no distinctions whatsoever. To all the sheep He is kind. Therefore we must emulate the example of God and strive in pathways of good and well-wishing for all humanity. May we endeavor with heart and soul to reconcile the religions of the earth, to reconcile the peoples of the earth, to reconcile and unify all the nations. May we uphold the flag of solidarity, and may we enkindle a light which shall illumine all regions with the radiance of oneness. May all our purposes be centralized in the earnest desire of attaining the good-pleasure of God, and may our supreme efforts be directed to the welding together of the human household. Let us not regard our own respective capacities; nay, rather let us regard forever the favors of God. The drop must not observe its own limited capacity. Nay rather, it must regard the sufficiency and capacity of the ocean which ever glorifieth the drop. The tender and simple seed, solitary though it may be, must not look at its own lack of power. Nay rather, its attention must ever be directed to the sun, in the rays of which it basks; and it must ever consider the downpour of the cloud of mercy. For the bounty of the cloud, the effulgence and heat of the sun and the breath of the vernal zephyrs can transform the tiny seed and develop it into a mighty tree. And may you remember that a single infinitesimal atom in the ray of the sun and through a shining beam of the solar energy becomes glorified and radiant.
Therefore let us ever trust in God and seek confirmation and assistance from Him. Let us have perfect and absolute confidence in the bounty of the Kingdom. Recall the events connected with souls of by-gone times, in the beginning of their days; and again regard them when, through the assistance and the aid of God, they proved to be the mighty ones of the earth. Remember the fact that Peter was a fisherman, but through the bounty of the Kingdom he became the great apostle. Mary, the Magdalen,
was a villager of lowly type, and that selfsame Mary, the Magdalen, was changed and became the means of conferring confirmation upon the disciples. Verily she served the Kingdom of God in such wise as to render herself well-known and oft-mentioned by the tongues of men. She is shining even today from the horizon of eternal majesty. Consider how colossal is the bounty of God. A woman such as Mary Magdalene God selected to be the channel of confirmation of the disciples, and a light of nearness in His Kingdom. Consequently trust ye in the bounty and grace of God, and rest assured in the bestowals of God's eternal outpouring. I am hopeful that each one of you may become a shining light, even as these electric lights are now shining. Nay rather, may each one of you become a luminary like unto a sparkling star in the heaven of His good will. This is my supplication at the throne of God. This is my hope through the favors of Baha'o'llah. In behalf of all of you I offer this supplication, and with a contrite heart do I beg for you assistance and eternal bestowal.
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT 1252 EIGHTH STREET, N. W., NOVEMBER 10, 1912.
Dr. Zia. M. Bagdadi, interpreter; stenographic notes by Mr. Joseph H. Hannen.
THIS is a beautiful assembly. This is a very good assembly. I am very happy that the whites and the colored are together. This is the cause of my happiness, for you are all the servants of one God, and all are brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. In the sight of God there is no white and there is no colored. In the sight of God all are as one. Any one whose heart is pure is dear to God, whether white or colored, red or yellow. Among the various animals there are colors. Among the doves that you see, some are white, some black, some yellow, red; but, notwithstanding this, they are in the utmost happiness and fellowship with each other. There is no distinction whatever, because they are all doves. Now you all are human. The doves understand that there is no distinction between their colors. Therefore they live together in the utmost fellowship. Man is intelligent and thoughtful; he has powers of mind. Why, then, should he be bound by distinction of color or race? There is no sheep which says to the other: "I am white!" or "You are black, and I am brown." Nay rather, they graze together in the utmost love, live together in the utmost unity and happiness. How can man be limited by colors? What are colors, anyway? The important thing is that in reality all are human. All are one progeny of Adam. Inasmuch as they are all one family, why should they be separated?
I had a servant who was colored; his name was Isfandiar. If a perfect man could be found in the world, that man was Isfandiar. He was the essence of love; radiant with sanctity and perfection. He was luminous like unto this light. Whenever I think of Isfandiar I am moved to tears, although he passed away fifty years ago. He was the faithful servant of Baha'o'llah. He was entrusted with the secrets of Baha'o'llah. The shah of Persia especially wanted him because he knew the secrets of Baha'o'llah; therefore the shah wanted him very much and inquired continually as to his whereabouts. His holiness Baha'o'llah was in prison; but the shah of Persia had appointed several persons to find Isfandiar. Perhaps more than a
(Continued on page 102)
STAR OF THE WEST
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: $1.50 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.
TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA.
HE IS GOD!
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. VI
No. 13
1850—Arthur P. Dodge—1915
A pioneer of the Bahai Cause in America has passed to the life beyond. The name of Arthur Pillsbury Dodge will ever be associated with its development in the western world, for he was an active worker and well known. In its memorial issue, the STAR THE WEST plans to mention his services in the Cause he loved. On behalf of the Bahais everywhere, we extend heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved.
—The Editors.
[NEWSPAPER CLIPPING]
ARTHUR P. DODGE DEAD, AFTER VARIED CAREER.
Lawyer, Inventor, Publisher, Author and Student of Religion Succumbs At Sixty-five.
Arthur Pillsbury Dodge, lawyer, inventor, publisher, and member of the bars of New York, New Hampshire, Illinois, and Massachusetts, died October 12th at his home in Freeport, L. I., in his sixty-sixth year. He was born in Enfield, N. H., and was a direct descendant of Simon Dodge, who came to this country from England in 1630. Mr. Dodge educated himself, and was admitted to the bar of Massachusetts in 1879, and for a time was attorney for Mary Baker G. Eddy, at that time an apostle of Phineas Parker Quimby, the founder of Christian Science.
In 1886 Mr. Dodge founded The New England Magazine, and later founded The Bay State Monthly and The Granite State Monthly. Dr. Edward Everett Hale and William Dean Howells were both associated with Mr. Dodge in these enterprises.
In 1892, Mr. Dodge went to Chicago and was admitted to the bar of Illinois and became interested with the late George M. Pullman and devoted his time to the development of the Dodge System of Stored Heat Motive Power. Later he founded the Kinetic Power Company, the Dodge Motor Company, and the Kinetic Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Dodge bought the franchise of the Babylon Railroad at Babylon, L. I., and, with the aid of the late Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, planned to use it to demonstrate his system of stored heat motive power. Later he sold the franchise to the Pennsylvania, Railroad. In 1900, in company with his wife, who was Miss Elizabeth Ann Day of Boston, and whom he married in 1870, he made a pilgrimage to the ancient prison city of Acre in Palestine, Syria, where Abdul-Baha Abbas was proclaiming the Bahai message to the world. Three years ago, Abbas visited this country and was entertained by Mr. Dodge, who made arrangements whereby he was allowed to preach the gospel of Universal Peace and Unification of Religions in a number of important churches throughout the United States.
Mr. Dodge was a profound student of religion and was the author of a number of books on religion, the most recent of which were "The Truth of It" and "Whence? Why? Whither?"
He is survived by his wife and three sons, William C. Dodge, a lawyer of 14 Nassau Street; Wendell Phillips Dodge, editor of the Strand Magazine, and Richard P. Dodge, a scenic artist.
His funeral services will be held from his late residence at Freeport on Thursday and the interment will take place in the Dodge plot in Wakefield, Mass.
Messages from Abdul-Baha to Bahais in Germany
PORTION of letter from Mirza Azzizollah dated Haifa, July 30, 1915, addressed to Miss Alma S. Knobloch, Stuttgart, Germany.
"I translated all the enclosed letters immediately and offered them to our beloved Abdul-Baha. He became very happy thereby. He loves all of you, dear friends. He often speaks highly of the character of his German children. He says: 'They are pure, their nature is not stained by any disagreeable quality. They are readily confirmed by the hosts of the Kingdom. They are blessed in their activities in serving and helping the negligent and distressed. Their success in the service of the kingdom of God is sure.'
"Dear sister, he praises them so often that I do not know which time to write. I have only to congratulate all for their nobility of character which attracts so many blessings from him.
"Also I pray that he may keep them always under his guarding staff, safe from the thieves of worldly desires, pride and negligence. I am sure he does this, and consequently they will always strive and shine brilliantly among other friends upon the horizon of the Cause."
Message from Abdul-Baha, to the Bahais of Germany, through Frau Consul Schwarz, translated by A. S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, July 25, 1915:
"O dear friends!
"Praise be to God, we are all well and safe under the shelter of divine patronage and protection. We are in the utmost harmony; we pray night and day and beseech God's mercy for all the people of the world, that He may not look at the capacity of His creatures (at what the people deserve), but may He deal with them through His mere Blessing and Grace, so that the means of comfort and joy may be attained; so that the hearts may become lamps for (His) lights, and the souls (people) may attain God's pleasure. This is our utmost desire and longing. And you also pray that the ocean of bounties may rise in waves, and all the people may become
immersed in the ocean of God's forgiveness.
"God be praised! Strong love is produced between Germany and Islam. The Islamic world is in love with the Germanic world. The former loves exceedingly, the latter.
"What a good friendship is produced! We hope that this love and friendship will give rise to great results, that it will influence others (nations) also.
"By the grace of God, we are well and happy. We hope that you are happy too. Your postal cards were received. As they bear the glad-tidings of your good health, they became the cause of our delight and joy. May peace be upon you!"
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT 1252 EIGHTH STREET, N. W.
(Continued from page ninety-nine)
hundred policemen were appointed to go in search of him. If they had succeeded in catching him, they would not have killed him at once. Nay rather, they would have cut his flesh into pieces to force him to tell them the secrets of Baha'o'llah. But Isfandiar with the utmost dignity used to walk in the streets and bazaars. One day he came to us. Mother, sister and I had a place near a corner, because they frequently injured us. We said: "We must go to a place where they do not know us." I was a child at that time. At midnight Isfandiar came in. Mother said: "O, Isfandiar, there are a hundred policemen seeking after you. If they catch you they will not kill you at once, but they will torture you with fire. They will cut off your fingers. They will cut your ears. They will put out your eyes, to force you to tell them the secrets of Baha'o'llah, you who are the servant of Baha'o'llah. Go away; do not stay here." He said, "I cannot go, because I am indebted in the street and in the stores. How can I go? They will say that the servant of Baha'o'llah has eaten and devoured the property of the people. Unless I pay all these debts, I cannot go. But, if they take me—never mind. If they kill me—never mind. If they punish me, there is no harm in that. But to go away is impossible. I must strive and pay all my debts. Then I will go." For one month Isfandiar went about in the streets and bazaars. He had things to sell and from his earnings he used to pay his debts. In fact, they were not his debts, but the debts of the court, for they had confiscated our properties. Everything we had was taken away from us. The only thing that remained was our debts. He paid all our debts; not a single penny remained unpaid. Then he came to us and said "Good-bye!" and went away. Afterwards Baha'o'llah was released from prison. We went to Bagdad, and Isfandiar came there. He wanted to stay in the same home, and Baha'o'llah the Blessed Perfection said: "When you fled away there was a Persian minister who gave you shelter, at a time when no one else could give you protection. Because he did give you shelter and protect you, you must be faithful to him. If your master is satisfied, then come to us; but if he does not want you to go, do not be separated from him." His master said: "I do not want to be separated from Isfandiar. Where can I find another like him, with such sincerity, such faithfulness, such character, such power? Where can I find one? O, Isfandiar! I am not willing that you should go, yet if you wish to go, let it be according to your own will." But because the Blessed Perfection had said, "You must be faithful," Isfandiair stayed with his master until he died. He was a point of light! Although his color was black, yet his character was luminous, his mind was luminous, his face was luminous. Truly, he was a point of light.
Then it is evident that excellence does not depend upon color. Character is the true criterion of humanity. Anyone
who possesses a good character, who has faith in God and is firm, whose manners are good, whose speech is good,—that one is accepted at the threshold of God, no matter what color he may be! In short—praise be to God!—you are the servants of God. The love of Baha'o'llah is in your hearts. Your souls are rejoicing in the glad-tidings of Baha'o'llah. My hope is that the white and the colored will be united in the utmost love and fellowship, with complete unity, associating in real amity and brotherhood. Associate with each other, think of each other and be like unto a rose-garden. Anyone who goes into a rose-garden will see various roses, white roses, pink roses, yellow roses, red roses growing together and replete with the utmost adornment. Each one is the adornment of the other. Were all of one color, the garden would be monotonous to the eye. If they are all white or all yellow or all red, the garden would lack variety and attractiveness. But when the colors are varied, white, pink, yellow, red, there will be the utmost beauty. Therefore I am hoping that you will be like unto a rose-garden. Although different in colors, yet—praise be to God!—you receive rays from the same sun. From one cloud the rain is poured upon you. You are under the training of one Gardener, and this Gardener is kind to all. Therefore you must manifest the utmost kindness towards each other, and you may rest assured that whenever you are united, the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha will reach you, the heavenly favors will descend upon you, the bounties of God will be given to you, the sun of reality will shine upon you, the cloud of mercy will pour its showers upon you, and the breeze of mercy will waft its fragrances upon you.
I hope you will continue in unity and fellowship. How beautiful to see colored and white together! I hope. God willing, the day will come when I shall see the red men, the Indians with you, also the Japanese and others. Then there will be white roses, yellow roses, red roses, and a very beautiful rose-garden will be organized!
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT 1901 EIGHTEENTH STREET, N. W., NOVEMBER 10, 1912.
Dr. Ameen U. Fareed, interpreter; stenographic notes by Mr. Joseph H. Hannen.
I AM well pleased with the friends of Washington, and entertain the utmost of joy for them. Likewise I am pleased with all the friends living in the environs of Washington, like Baltimore, etc., for I have observed that their hearts are attracted to the love of Baha'o'llah. Their sight is occupied with the kingdom of Baha. Their spirits are joyous through the glad-tidings of Abha. Verily they are servants of the Cause of God. All are endeavoring to serve, and the utmost of their desire is to enter into the kingdom of Abha and draw near to God. On that account I am very happy and I am well pleased with them. For all do I pray. May the favors of the Blessed Beauty (Baha'o'llah) encompass them all, and may the lights of the sun of reality shine upon all. May you all be united and assured. As a, united force may you as one, singly and alone serve God's Cause; and I give you the glad-tidings that the confirmation of God will reach you. Be assured of this. Ye will become illumined. Ye will become conquerors.
But after I leave, perhaps some people will arise in opposition to you, heap persecutions upon you, and in the papers there may be articles against the Cause. Rest ye in assurance of firmness. Be ye well poised. Be ye serene,
and remember that they are only as the twittering of sparrows, and they will pass away. If it be not so, the fame of the Cause will not be widespread and the summons of God will not be heard. Consider the times of the past. Regard, for instance, the days of his holiness Christ and the days subsequent thereto. How many were the books compiled against his holiness! How many were the calumnies attributed to him! How many were the utterances in the temples against his holiness! How many were the accusations against him, and what hatred and persecutions! How many scoffed at him in derision! How many were the titles they bestowed upon him! They even designated him Beelzebub—satan. They did not say "Jesus." They used the term Beelzebub. Beelzebub was crucified, they said. Beelzebub was captured. Upon the head of Beelzebub was placed the crown of thorns. Beelzebub was taken and paraded through the streets, they said. This is the name of the Jews for Christ, and you will find it in the Gospels. It is recorded there. Likewise many were the forms of reviling and persecution. Witness in the Gospel, how they went as far as spitting in his face, cursing him, anathematizing him, and bowing backward towards him, saying: "Peace be on thee—thou king of the Jews!" "Peace be on thee, thou destroyer of the temple!" "Peace be on thee, thou king and pretending builder of the temple in three days!" How many were the philosophers of the times, Romans and Greeks, who wrote against his holiness Christ! Even the kings wrote against him. Many were the calumnies indeed. One of the Caesars who was a philosopher wrote a book. In that book, concerning the people of Christ, he says: "The most degraded of people are the Christians. The most immoral of the people of this time are the Christians. Jesus of Nazareth has led them astray. O people! If you wish to know who Jesus is and what Christian means, go and ask his relatives. Go and ask the Jews who knew him. See what a bad person he was; how degraded he was." There were many similar accounts. But remember that these did not affect the Cause of Christianity. Nay rather, Christianity advanced daily in power and potency.
Day by day the majesty of Christ grew in splendor and effulgence. Therefore my purpose is to warn you against accusations, against certain complaints, criticisms, revilings, and upbraidings in newspaper articles, or other publications. Be not disturbed by them. They are the very cause of confirming the Cause; the very source of upbuilding the movement. I hope that God may confirm it that ten or twenty ministers of the churches may arise and with bared heads cry at the top of their voices, saying to the people that the Bahais are misguided. I would like to see that day, and I want you to know that on that day something is going to happen. That is the day when the Cause is going to spread. Baha'o'llah has pronounced such as these the couriers of the Cause. They will proclaim from the pulpit that these Bahais are fools; that these Bahais are a bad lot; but be ye steadfast in the Cause of God. They will spread the Cause of Baha'o'llah.
My purpose is this.—that his honor Mirza Abul Fezl has written a treatise* answering the criticisms of a London preacher. It is published in Chicago; Mr. Windust has copies of it, and the copies are for distribution. Each one of you should have a copy of that book, and read, memorize and ponder over it. Then when anybody advances accusations and criticisms, you will be well armed.
*Refers to "The Brilliant Proof" by Mirza Abul Fazl. It was published by Abdul-Baha during his sojourn in America. Mr. Windust was the printer of the book. It can be had of the Bahai Publishing Society, P. O. Box 283, Chicago. Price, 15 cents.
--PHOTO-- THE CENTER OF THE COVENANT THE GREATEST BRANCH ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS
"When the ocean of My Presence hath disappeared and the Book of Origin is achieved to the end, turn your faces toward Him-Whom-God-hath-purposed, who hath branched from this Pre-Existent Root." —Words of BAHA'O'LLAH.
