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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. VII Ola 1, 72 (March 2, 1917) No. 19
Survival and Salvation
Words of Abdul-Baha from Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab
February, 1914
THOU has asked concerning the spirit and its immortality after its departure. Know thou that at the time of its translation it ascends and ascends until it reaches the presence of God, clothed in a temple (body) which will not become subject to the changes wrought by ages and cycles, nor by the contingencies of the world, nor the emanations thereof. It will continue to exist through the eternality of the Kingdom of God—its sovereignty, its dominion, its potency. From it will appear the signs of God and his qualities, the providence of God and his bestowal. Verily the pen is unable to move in a befitting manner in explaining this truth—its exaltation and loftiness. The hand of mercy shall cause it to enter into men's minds, though it cannot be grasped through any explanation, nor be described by those means which are available in the world.
Blessed is the spirit which abandons the body, previously sanctified and freed from the doubts of the nations. Verily, it moves in the atmosphere of the will of its Lord, and it enters into the supreme paradise. It is welcomed by the angels of the Most High. It associates with the prophets of God, and his chosen ones, and it converses with them, and relates to them those events which have happened to it in the path of God, the Lord of both worlds.
Were one to become informed of that which is pre-ordained for the spirit in the worlds of God, the Lord of the throne and the earth, he would become immediately enkindled with the fire of yearning for this impregnable, exalted, holy, and most glorious state of being.
The prophets and the messengers have come in order to guide mankind to the straight path of the true one. Their aim has been no other than the education of the people, so that at the time of death they may depart to the supreme friend, with perfect sanctification, purification and severance. I declare that the prophets are causative of the improvements and the progress of the nations. They are the leaven of existence and the greatest means for the appearance of sciences and arts in this world.
As to the question concerning the soul, know thou, verily, that "soul" is a term applied to numerous realities, according to the exigencies of the following relations in regard to development in the world of existence:
(1) In the mineral kingdom, soul is called "latent force" silently working for the disintegration of the substance of the mineral.
(2) In the vegetable kingdom it is called "virtue augmentative," or the power of growth, which attracts and absorbs the delicate materials of inorganic substance found in the mineral kingdom of matter, and transforms them into the condition of growth. Thus the inorganic
substance found in the mineral kingdom becomes growing vegetable life through the effect of the word of God. This vegetable soul, i. e. "virtue augmentative," or power of growth, is a quality which is produced by the admixture of elements, and appears in accidental organisms, of which contingency is an essential attribute.
(3) In the animal kingdom it is called "sense perceptions" (or instinct). This soul term, as applied to the animal kingdom, is also a natural quality resulting from the mixture of the elements, and it appears from their mingling and combination, for it is a quality which results from the composition of bodies (organisms), and is dispersed at their decomposition. From this we are to understand that the animal soul is not endowed with the capacity of attaining immortality, as the life force is dispersed at the decomposition of the animal tissues.
All these things up to this point are a contingent reality, and are not a divine reality. But a contingent reality, which is perpetuated by the fullness of existence, will then suffer no corruption, and will thus become a divine reality, for the accidental reality is only distinguished from the existent reality by its subjection to corruption. For transformation is an essential necessity to every contingent reality, and this is what the mature wisdom has deemed advisable.
(4) In the human, worldly soul signifies the "rational being, or mind." This has a potential existence before its appearance in human life. It is like unto the existence of a tree within the seed. The existence of the tree within the seed is potential; but when the seed is sown and watered, the signs thereof, its roots and branches, and all of its different qualities, appear. Likewise, the "rational soul" has a potential existence before its appearance in the human body, and through the mixture of elements and a wonderful combination, according to the natural order, law, conception, and birth, it appears with its identity.
Be it known that to know the reality or essence of the soul of man is impossible, for, in order to know a thing, one must comprehend it, and since a thing cannot comprehend itself, to know one's self in substance or essence is impossible. As the comprehender cannot be comprehended, man cannot know himself in reality or essence. In order to obtain knowledge of any reality, or soul of man, the student must study the manifestations, qualities, names and characteristics of man. This much can be stated, that the reality of man is a pure and unknown essence constituting a depository, emanating from the Light of the Ancient Entity—God. This essence or soul of man, because of its innate purity, and its connection with the unseen Ancient Entity, is old as regards time, but new as regards individuality. This connection is similar to that of the ray of the sun—the effect to the primal cause. Otherwise, the thing that is generated, or the creature, has no connection with or relation to its Generator or its Creator.
Since the pure essence, whose identity is unknown, possesses the virtues of the worlds of matter and of the Kingdom, it has two sides—first, the material and physical; second, the mental and spiritual—which are attributes not found as qualities of matter. It is the same reality which is given different names, according to the different conditions wherein it becomes manifest. Because of its attachment to matter and the phenomenal world, when it governs the physical functions of the body, it is called the human soul. When it manifests itself as the thinker, the comprehender, it is called the mind. And when it soars into the atmosphere of God, and travels in the spiritual world, it becomes designated as spirit.
There are two sides to man. One is divine, the other worldly; one is luminous, the other dark; one is angelic, the other diabolic; man is equal to the animals in all sensuous conditions, for all animal characteristics exist in him. Likewise, divine and satanic qualities are contained
in man; knowledge and ignorance; guidance and error; truth and falsehood; generosity and avarice; valour and timidity; inclination towards God and tendency towards satan. Chastity and purity; corruption and vileness; economy and avidity; good and evil; all are contained in man.
(5) If the angelic side becomes more powerful, and the divine power and brightness surround man, then the second birth takes place, and eternal life is found at this point. Man becomes then the noblest among creatures. On the other hand, if sensuous qualities surround, and if terrestrial darkness and sensuous passions predominate, if they meet in man only the worldly feelings, if they find him a captive of evil qualities and fallen into everlasting death, then such a man is the basest and most abject among all creatures. In such a man, divine power does not exist. An animal is not considered unjust and evil because of its cruelty and injustice, for it is not endowed, as is man, with divine qualities; but if man falls into the same evil condition, it is evident that he has permitted his ungodly attributes to overcome the divine qualities with which he was endowed. This shows the baseness and meanness that exist in human nature.
"Exert yourselves to guide some soul out of the whirlwind of mortality to the fountain head of immortality"
Words of Baha'o'llah
I DECLARE by The Greatest Name, it is a pity that in these days anyone should look to unimportant worldly conditions! Stand in the command of God, and deal with each other with the utmost love. Sincerely, for the sake of the Beloved, consume selfish veils with the fire of oneness, and consort with each other with cheerful, shining faces. Ye all saw the manners of the True One with your own eyes. He has never wished that any night should pass while a single one of the beloved of God was offended with this youth!
The heart of the world is ablaze with the divine world! It is a pity that ye should not be enkindled with this fire! God willing, we hope ye will appoint this night as the "Night of Unity" and all become united with each other, and be adorned with the garment of excellent, praiseworthy qualities; and that ye will exert yourselves to guide some soul out of the whirlpool of mortality to the fountain head of immortality, and amongst men conduct yourselves in such a manner that the signs of the True One may become manifest in you. For ye are the first of worshippers, the first of adorers, and the first of those who revolve around the True One!
By the One who gave me utterance to that which he desireth,—in the Kingdom of Abha your names are better known than they are to your own selves! Do not suppose that this statement is an imagination! O that you could see that which your Lord sees as to the loftiness of your rank, the greatness of your worth, and the exaltation of your state! We beg of God that your desires may not prevent you from that which has been ordained for you.
We hope you will deal with each other in the utmost affinity, love and friendship, in such wise that through your unity the banner of oneness shall be hoisted and that of infidelity reversed, and that you will precede each other in good works and good will. His is command and creation. He doeth that which he willeth and commandeth that which he desireth! Verily, he is the powerful, the potent.
STAR OF THE WEST
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Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
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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. VII
No. 19
Tablets from Abdul-Baha on Immortal Life
"His spirit flew from this world"
To the maid-servant of God, Miss MacCutcheon—Upon her be greeting and praise!
Thy letter was received. On account of the death of thy father and brother the utmost sorrow and regret was produced. How unfortunate it is that that young man was killed instantly by the sudden shock! But his spirit flew from this world into the world beyond and the spirit of thy father soared toward the heavenly realm. Be thou not sad or unhappy for these two heavenly birds flew toward the rose-garden of eternity and attained to the infinite immensity of the Kingdom. Although those two lamps were extinguished in the earthly glass yet they became the enkindled lamps in the everlasting lamp of the Kingdom. At this moment they are in the utmost state of joy and happiness and so they shall be throughout all eternity. Consequently do thou not grieve nor be thou dispirited.
Convey my longing greeting to all the friends of God.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
"She is not counted amongst the dead"
To Mrs. A. E. Magee—May her soul be happy!
O thou afflicted one!
In this great catastrophy* the eyes are weeping and the hearts are burning, because that incomparable plant was growing and developing with infinite joy and fragrance in the garden of the love of God. She was stirred into cheerfulness by the wafting of the breeze of
*Refers to the death of her daughter, Harriet Magee.
providence; day by day she was progressing, and she was at all times the cause of the consolation of the hearts of the friends. I will never forget her, for she was one of the most important personages. But it was destined that she might become free from this material world, the world of physical sufferings and tribulations, and hasten toward the heavenly universe, so that through the showers of the cloud of grace she may obtain the utmost freshness and infinite delicacy
and yield luscious fruits. Consequently be thou not unhappy, nor be thou grieved, for she is not counted amongst the dead. Nay rather she was dead, she became alive; she was evanescent, she became eternal; she was earthly, she became heavenly; she lived in the material world, she became wholly spiritual. Like unto a bird she was a prisoner and captive in the cage of this body. This cage was broken; that bird winged its way heavenward, and in the celestial rose-garden she became the associate and companion of other divine birds. Thou shalt find her in that rose-garden with the utmost joy and fragrance.
Convey on my behalf the utmost kindness and love to Mr. and Mrs. Inglis. I beg of God that in this affliction he may bestow upon them patience and consolation, and that they may educate their dear son in accord with their highest and purest standard.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
In Memoriam
Mrs. Lua Moore Getsinger
FURTHER word comes from Cairo of the last days of the brave maid-servant of the kingdom, Mrs. Lua Getsinger. Mrs. Getsinger went to Cairo last autumn, hoping to leave soon for America, and carry Abdul-Baha's message of light to the friends in the West. The friends in Cairo loved her devotedly and opened their homes to her. For a number of months she was at the home of Mirza Taki Esphaim, "Abdul-Baha's faithful steward in Cairo," where she suffered a long illness through the winter. He and his wife cared for their American sister more tenderly. "Before and after this illness," Miss Eleanor Hiscox writes, though she never recovered her strength, Lua Getsinger went about with heroic will "giving the Bahai teachings, her work being chiefly among the young men, as they are the only ones among the Egyptians who know English. All listened to her eagerly, and all were uplifted and blessed by her inspiring words. The lives of some were completely transformed by her influence. Such was the power of the words of Baha'o'llah upon her lips."
"In the early spring she went to Shoubra, a suburb of Cairo, to the house of another Bahai, who greatly desired that she should remain there for a while for the sake of her Bahai influence upon his wife and her family, formerly Christian. And she spent her time in giving them all lessons in English, of which they had some knowledge. They all loved her devotedly and treated her as their own sister. It was there her last days were passed. One night (it was the 2nd of May) she awoke with a severe pain in her heart. She called the family, who telephoned for a doctor. But before his arrival she passed into the other world after uttering three times, 'Ya-Baha-el-Abha.'
"The grief and sorrow of all the Bahais was very great, for all loved her as a devoted sister. One of the choicest sites was selected for her tomb. No expense was spared by the Bahai friends for their devoted sister, beloved by Abdul-Baha, in the last acts which could be done for her. How they all loved her! How they still weep when they speak of her!
"Here our sister Lua lies buried in the same city with Mirza Abul Fazl. The prophetic words of Abdul-Baha have come to pass, for Bahai pilgrims and friends already visit her grave with offerings of love and devotion."
In the last days of illness she hovered between the will to serve on earth and the longing to fly away into the glorious
freedom of "the immensity of the kingdom." On April 12th she wrote to Miss Hiscox: 'Little by little I am seeing all the reasons why many things are as they are and the lessons I have to learn thereby. I am sure until the last day of our lives we will be learning lessons, for this world is a school, from which we graduate only when we leave it. I shall be so glad when the last day comes, and the school is forever (so far as I am concerned) dismissed. His will, not mine, be done!"
The lessons of the earth-world she learned beautifully in those last days of illness and trial. As Miss Hiscox says, her suffering "had a purifying influence upon her and seemed to burn away all the dross and to leave her pure gold. She had only love and forgiveness for all." She saw that every experience had been for the best. Like an angel ready to enter the kingdom of light, she turned her face, "a few days before her departure," to the picture of the Center of the Covenant, which hung on the wall, and said, with tears in her eyes but with manifest firmness: "All I want to do is his will and to be severed from ought else save God."
HENRY L. GOODALE.
Oct. 8, 1844—May 15, 1916.
After an illness of much suffering for three weeks, our beloved friend and brother, Mr. Henry L. Goodale, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, passed away most peacefully, realizing that he was going to join the Heavenly Concourse and meet his Glorious Lord.
He was among the first to receive the Message in America and a member of the original House of Spirituality in Chicago. Many of the friends there recall the happy hours spent with "Pa Good-ale," in his little shoe shop. His love and wise counsel was freely given to all. Later he removed to Kenosha. He was beloved by all who knew him or had any dealings with him in business; sincere in the Cause of Baha'o'llah, both in his daily life and by teaching whenever the opportunity offered.
He attended, with his devoted wife, the Convention in San Francisco last year, where he made himself beloved as always. At the wonderful Feast of El-Rizwan, held in the beautiful home of Mrs. Goodall, the talk he gave melted every heart and tears came to the eyes. Everyone instinctively felt that the breezes of the Love of God surrounded him.
Fannie G. Lesch.
MIRZA ALI AKBAR.
On Saturday, June 10, 1916, in the Post-Graduate Hospital, New York City, where he had lain ill for many weeks, the pure and beautiful spirit of our Bahai brother, Mirza Ali Akbar, of Tabriz, Persia, ascended to the supreme home. A Bahai service was held the following Tuesday night and Wednesday morning,
Isabella D. Brittingham.
CHARLES E. BRUSH.
Charles E. Brush, born March 17, 1855, at Carbondale, Ill., passed away in Chicago, October 30, 1916. Mr. Brush was an architect of high standing and left many monuments attesting his fine ability, among which near at home is the DeKalb Normal School, which is considered a model for that type of school, and also the Court House at Sycamore.
Mr. Brush loved his profession and was a man of high ideals and fine integrity. He appreciated merit wherever he found it, and always stood ready to assist those who were worthy either as workmen or as men.
Mr. Brush was a son of the late Col. D. H. Brush, who was a public spirited man and who figured largely in the history of Southern Illinois. He leaves to mourn his loss a widow, Ida Flemming Brush, who is an earnest follower of the Bahai teachings and intensely interested in the Cause.
JOHN HARRISON MILLS.
John Harrison Mills, 75 years old, one of Buffalo's oldest residents and an artist of note, died October 23, 1916. Mr. Mills had been ill only a short time. He had just completed a memorial tablet to Jesse Ketchum, founder of the Buffalo Normal school.
Mr. Mills was born at Williamsville, N. Y., but lived nearly all his life in Buffalo. His home was at No. 494 Elmwood Avenue. He was well known in art circles throughout the country. His bust of Abraham Lincoln and his scenes in the Rocky mountains are considered examples of his best work. He spent fifteen years in Colorado.
Some of Mr. Mills's work is on exhibition at the Buffalo Historical society's room.
As a member of the 21st New York regiment Mr. Mills was a member of the guard of honor when President Lincoln's body passed through Buffalo. He made a sketch of the martyr President, from which he later molded the bust.
Mr. Mills was the only survivor of the editorial staff of The Buffalo Express during Samuel L. Clemens's time, when he worked with the humorist as reporter and copy reader. That was from 1869 to 1871.
Besides a widow, he leaves a daughter, Mrs. Margaret Sprague of Buffalo, and a son, William of New York.
Mr. Mills was a Bahai. His supplication addressed to Abdul-Baha, begging acceptance into the Kingdom of God, reveals his clear vision and pure intention. We quote it in part:
"O Greatest Branch!
"I see in thee now that Greatest offshoot of the Tree whereon we may lay hold when the floods come, and not be swept away, and that beneath thee we may dwell when the earth shall be renewed, and I beg that I may be accepted in the Glorious Kingdom, and that my name may be registered in the book of the favorites. And I also beg the blessing of the worlds to come and the present one, for myself and for those who are near and dear to me, and for the gifts and powers to enable me to impart this Great Truth: The Coming of The Kingdom of God—to the people of my country, or for the spiritual gifts for which thou seest me best fitted. And I ask that in me the work of human hands may glorify God and that beauty which is His and which He has given as a token may be inward in me and in my work testify of Him.
"Humbly Thy servant,"
(Signed) John Harrison Mills.
(Copy made from original, by Henrietta F. Mills, Nov, 19, 1916, at Mrs. Mills' home.)
The Divine Art of Living—Chapter Two
(Continued from page 188)
significant weight and momentous importance in the future.
(Words of Abdul-Baha, from the Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, May 13, 1914.)
Will is the center or focus of human understanding. We must will to know God, just as we must will in order to possess the life He has given us. The human will must be subdued and trained into the will of God. It is a great power to have a strong will, but a greater power to give that will to God. The will is what we do, the understanding is what we know. Will and understanding must be one in the cause of God. Intention brings attainment.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Ten Days in the Light of Acca; p. 30.)
In the world of humanity "good intentions" is the greatest means of personal development. If a person has
"good intention" he will succeed in all of his undertakings.
(Words of Abdul-Baha, from the Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, April 8, 1914.)
The worst human quality and the most great sin is back-biting, and most especially when it emanates from the tongues of the believers of God. If some means were devised so that the doors of back-biting could be shut eternally and each one of the believers of God unsealed his tongue in the praise of the other, then the teachings of His Holiness Baha'o'llah would have been spread, the hearts illuminated, the spirit glorified, and the human world would have attained to everlasting felicity.
I hope that the believers of God will shun back-biting completely (gossip-making and fault-finding), each one praising the other cordially, and believe that back-biting is the cause of the divine wrath, to such an extent that if a person back-bites to the extent of one word he may become dishonored amongst the people; because the most hateful characteristic of man is fault-finding. One must expose the praise-worthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their faults.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: From tablet quoted in Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, August 11, 1913.)
In our physical selves we are like the animals; yet in some ways the animals are even higher than men; they are more restful and composed; more trustful and reliant upon the bounty of God, more in the flow of his will. The birds of Mount Carmel are his creatures. They can fly to the highest brandies of the trees and build their nests. From the mountain-tops the birds can enjoy the beautiful view of the sea and mountain by their power of sight. All this beauty exists for us as well. The love of God, the beauty of God is everywhere and exists for man if he will but rise to spiritual heights, open his spiritual vision and behold it. Is the king free as the bird is free to fly upward? The king's head is often heavy with anxiety and the things of this world which hold him down. The true pleasure and happiness depend upon the spiritual perception and enjoyment. The powers of mind are the bounties of God given to man to lead him toward spiritual happiness. The highest grace in man is to love God. Love of God, knowledge of God is the greatest, the only real happiness, because it is nearness to God. This is the kingdom of God. To love God is to know Him. To know him is to enter his kingdom, and to be near him.
(Words of Abdul-Baha: Ten Days in the Light of Acca; p. 38.)
End of Volume VII
