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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 Nur 1, 71 (June 5, 1915) No. 5
The Feast of Rizwan
At the home of Mrs. Helen S. Goodall, Oakland, California April 21, 1915, 2 p. m.
THE most charming event of the Bahai Congress at San Francisco, was the Feast of Rizwan, given in the beautiful Oakland residence of Mrs. Goodall. The feast was a noon luncheon which proved a veritable banquet. Mrs. Goodall's home is delightfully planned for such an entertainment. From a spacious entrance hall ascends a graceful branching stairway to the floor above, that is like an open court, from which one can look down upon the floor below.
The first floor is so connected by great sliding doors, that it seems one vast salon, and here the tables were laid for the banquet. These tables were beautifully decorated with flowers, in fact, flowers were everywhere in the house. It was evident that the guests had arrived in the land of flowers.
When all were seated Mrs. Goodall greeted them in a few touching words, in which she told how Abdul-Baha had walked through her rooms, and up and down the broad stairway repeating, with that wonderful smile of his, "This is my house, this is my house!" Her description brought to every mind the vivid recollection of Abdul-Baha's presence in America, and seemed to place him bodily among the guests, so naturally every one was happy. We were surrounded not only by the hospitality of Mrs. Goodall, but by the enveloping welcome of Abdul-Baha himself.
Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm then took charge of the assemblage, as toast master, and he was very happy in his usual half facetious and half serious vein, calling upon various people to express the feeling of the occasion, and the joy of comradeship which it aroused.
The first one to speak was Mr. Hall of Minneapolis, who said only a few words, because, as he explained, we were just at the beginning of the feast, but his words were a genial invitation to feast well and remember also the happiness of the occasion celebrated, and the delight of lunching together in the beautiful home which Abdul-Baha had made spiritually his own. Mr. Hall's great and characteristic talk was made later, when he took part in the evening devoted to explanation of the economic teachings of the Bahai movement; then his illuminating suggestions as to how we may transform material into divine civilization will not be forgotten by those who heard them.
Mr. Hall's opening address was in marked contrast to that of Dr. D'Evelyn which brought the entertainment to an end, for Dr. D'Evelyn spoke after the spirit of comradeship had warmed the assembled guests, and he gave a significant and eloquent description of the moment when Abdul-Baha reached San Francisco, and the long suspense of the committee who awaited his belated arrival. Not all
the members of the committee lingered, as one gathered from Dr. D'Evelyn's words, and it was a moment, he said, when military experience was of value, when the habit of quiescent waiting through long hours for the word of command bore fruit. Those who waited were rewarded, for in the weird moments between two and three in the morning, the white turban of Abdul-Baha at last issued from the
--PHOTO-- LOSEY-OGDEN PHOTO CO. INDIANAPOLIS.—SAN FRANCISCO. THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL BAHAI CONGRESS APRIL 15 (--UNREADABLE--) SAN FRANCISCO, U.S.A.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL BAHAI CONGRESS CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF RIZWAN
long exit at the ferry, and his warm hand clasp, and the welcome of his eyes eliminated all the weary hours of hope delayed.
Between these two addresses many good things were said, Mr. Harris gave one of his characteristic forcible talks, Mr. Windust, who was particularly heralded by his friend "Roy", uttered some gentle philosophy, Mr. Hoar talked well as he always does, Mr. Hannen said many interesting things, Mrs. True was called for and made a brief but impressive talk. Mrs. Ford also made a few remarks, but the addresses of women were not a feature of this congress, and in fact one would hardly have surmised from scanning the program of the Congress how warmly the equality of women is advocated by Bahais everywhere. Perhaps the marked absence of women from the list of speakers will ensure their presence in the congresses of the future, for certainly the work of the women in
the Bahai cause is of supreme importance.
The delightful feature of the feast was not the brilliance of individual speakers, nor Mr. Wilhelm's gay and tactful manner of filling the office of toastmaster, nor the charm of the environment provided by Mrs. Goodall's genuine hospitality, though all these were appreciated. It was perhaps suggested by the few words spoken by "Pa" Goodale. There was a warmth and tenderness in his simple words which found a response in every heart.
He, himself, was so moved at one time his lips trembled and he could only proceed with effort. The vibration of his words, therefore, was far deeper than anything expressed in the words themselves.
All who participated in this feast left it with a new consciousness, a sense of union, of warmth and gentleness toward all, a new feeling of the need of brotherhood in the world, and of what
real brotherhood is. Is not this what Abdul-Baha means when he says he hopes the Bahais will kindle such a fire of peace in America that they will establish the peace of the world? Because real and lasting peace is not settled by mere diplomatic legislation, but must spring from a new and more tender feeling in the heart, which cannot endure the existence of suffering in the world, and insists upon the creation of that new justice which is not satisfied unless each country not only makes peace with its neighbor but sees to it that individually its citizens are assured of happiness and equal opportunity.
Perhaps one might call this spiritually a militant peace; it is not quiescent,
it is not pacific in one sense, because it insists upon positive action for the establishment of truth, and upon wide readjustments, but such a warm, smiling, militant peace spreads from one happy heart to another, and ensures the happiness of the world.
—Mary Hanford Ford.
On April 21st the Feast of Rizwan was celebrated at the home of Mrs. Helen S. Goodall in Oakland. The friends gathered in this beautiful spot, where Abdul-Baha had been, where he had addressed to the lovers of truth, wonderful words. These words were read by Mrs. Ella G. Cooper and were the center around which the feast revolved. Mr. Roy C.
STAR OF THE WEST
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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. 5
Wilhelm presided and through his spiritual perceptions and his keenness of humor assisted the flow of happiness and rejoicing. The spirit of Abdul-Baha permeated throughout, becoming stronger and stronger as the feast proceeded.
When at the end, Dr. Frederick W. D'Evelyn read a cablegram received from Persia telling of the martyrdom of a venerable Bahai teacher and of the danger to the friends there, asking us to intercede with our government for the protection of the Americans in Persia, the consciousness of nearness was so great as to be beyond description. We were submerged in the sea of oneness and all barriers were swept away. In the prayer for these needy ones that followed we ascended to the holy threshold, and supplicated with a new understanding of the joys and the sufferings that come to those who have been the recipients of the divine bounty of oneness and brotherhood. So close were the ties that bound us in the spirit of Baha'o'llah that though we were in America, we were conscious of the spiritual atmosphere of the beloved friends in Persia. The traces of divine unity were apparent in every face.
At the close of the feast a photograph was taken on the terrace and this will always be a reminder of the spiritual hospitality that adorned that memorable gathering.
—Harlan F. Ober.
Ceremonies at the Official Reception Given to the International Bahai Congress
(Continued from page thirty-four)
give, that it cannot tolerate the existence of the misery of others, and must banish poverty and establish justice on this earth!
THE CHAIRMAN: We can safely intrust the closing words of this never-to-be-forgotten occasion to our esteemed co-worker, Mr. William H. Randall, of Boston.
MR. RANDALL: Mr. Chairman, Director Britton, members of this committee, friends: I am glad I was not
asked to speak first, principally because I shall not have to speak very long, and particularly because the words of Director Britton brought a great lump in my throat. I am not even going to wait for the end to express your sentiments and mine in thanking Director Britton and this committee for the very deep feeling of gratitude we have, that they have taken us right into the heart of the ideal of this great Exposition; we enter that heart bringing to it the pulsations of the love of humanity, and we take to its mind the highest vision that God has given us.
We knew, before we had stepped a single foot in San Francisco, that we were to enter the very melting pot of the East and the West, where all emerge as brothers. "California welcomes the world"—the paean of brotherhood!
Our hearts were deeply touched by this wonderful reception, and as I walked through the grounds this morning it seemed to me that right out there Aladdin stood with his wonderful lamp, and just wished that the most marvelous city the world has ever seen should immediately descend into existence, expressing the very epitome of architectural and scientific beauty.
This city is a city of oneness, because every nation of the world has contributed to its growth. This city expresses the sacrifice and the love of California and San Francisco for humanity, because in the very midst of war and strife it has patiently worked to rear this wonderful City of Peace, that it may be the herald to the whole world of the peace in the hearts of this nation, and the example of the bestowals of peace. Yes, and even more than that, for this city has been reared and elevated in all its magical beauty of light upon the shores of the greatest ocean, which is named for peace.
The Golden Gate is the hope of humanity. The gift that every nation has to give to every other nation is not its commercialism. It is the wealth of its spiritual culture. Prejudice—religious, social and racial—has seemed to block up the arteries of mankind; it has choked the flow of that love and wisdom which come from the great heart and the great mind of the great Power of all. The Bahai Revelation, in its effort, is seeking to break down all these barriers, every barrier of prejudice, every race hatred, every religious misunderstanding, that through this great organism of humanity may flow, from the heart and mind of all, the love and the bestowal that the Creator has in store for us, if we only lift up our eyes and our hearts to receive the gift.
Baha'o'llah in the time of darkness, arising in Persia some fifty or sixty years ago, has returned to the world that gift of God whereby man shall become acquainted with the knowledge of God. The gift has always been in the possession of the world. Every prophet that has come has brought this gift, this vision, and it is the very continuity of prophetic vision, but the world has not received it. Mankind has gone on in its isolation, although God has never been isolated from man.
I am not going to make a speech this morning. I am just going to give an illustration.
The heart and the core of the Bahai Movement is unity. Every kingdom in the world grows and thrives and brings forth its hidden secrets because of the fact that it is under the law of unity. There are no eight-hour labor days in the sun. The sun has no night; it just keeps right on shining. And it shines because it loves to shine, and there is no consciousness of effort; and we never hear a sunbeam come to us with complaint, because every molecule of the sun is affinitized with every other molecule, and there is expressed there such a perfect and absolute unity that the expression of the whole is a radiance
that is a perfect conflagration, and it pours out this energy without effort, and brings creative power to every world that depends upon its center of unity. And that is just what God is doing to humanity, only we have not found it out.
If we could only understand unity, humanity would be a great flame of love, just like the sun, and there would be no sickness, no poverty, no effort; we should just be harnessed to the divine Energy, and our activities would be the expression of our joys. Nature knows unity. The stone knows it. Are we not better than the stories? And yet we have isolated ourselves from the very principle and from the very power that should bring about this expression of the unity that would give to us the joys of life.
God did not just make this earth and stick a few stars around it and then stop working. He has created worlds within worlds, and mysteries within mysteries, and the key to unlock these worlds and these mysteries, which shall give to us the knowledge of heaven and earth, is the key of unity. This is the Bahai Revelation. And from that central heart there spreads out in luminous light to the whole world the principles upon which this unity stands: the oneness of the world of humanity, the solidarity of the human race, the oneness of all the religions.
God in his singleness created a universe of oneness. If we can rise to that vision, if we can stop seeking the center of self and turn our eyes to that supreme center which is God, we shall find that we were all created by God to be a brotherhood, a race of solidarity, and not separate races, and separate colors, and separate nations. Is it greater that we love that nation which we call our nation, or that we love humanity in which all nations merge and from which all nations stand forth?
Every prophet has brought us this message. But man has decided that he can do better going it alone. He has felt that his own interest was greater than that for which God created him. But when we wake up to this worldwide vision, and enter into this race-deep consciousness, we shall realize that the real bestowals are much greater than anything that we can learn or conceive of.
Abdul-Baha, the son of Baha'o'llah, came to California two or three years ago, and in one of the tablets, or letters, in which he spoke of San Francisco, he spoke of it as being a city of great freedom. This is the very first step toward the emancipation of self, the race and the world. Freedom! Free from all petty prejudices, free from all limitations, so that we can amalgamate and become a concrete whole.
Baha'o'llah has brought to us this knowledge of God, this knowledge of unity, and he has given to us the power to express this unity, so that today this Bahai spirit, in its universal movement, is reaching around the world. In every country, and in every city, we find the little groups actively working for the uplift of humanity. The secret of this power is the love of service. The moment we begin to serve we begin to enter into that divine power which is waiting to mold us all in that image in which God created us.
I am going to close with this remark, that the Bahai Movement is not a new religion, but it is the spirit of all religions, "a new statement and a new demonstration of the power of God which is working for the education and the uplift of humanity."
