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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. IX Massa'ul 1, 74 (December 12, 1918) No. 15
"Although the tempest and the hurricane were intense and violent, yet, praise be to God, the Ark of Salvation reached the haven of security, while protected and guarded."
FIRST TABLET REVEALED FOR BAHAIS OF PERSIA SINCE OPENING OF DOORS OF HOLY LAND
To his honor Agha Sayad Nasrollah Bakeroff.—Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH-EL-ABHA!
HE IS GOD!
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
It was a long time since the thread of correspondence had been entirely broken, and the hearts were affected with sorrow and agitation. Now, praise be to God, that in these days, through divine favor, the black clouds are dispersed and the light of composure and tranquillity has enlightened this region; the tyrannous government is done away with and followed by a just administration. All the people are delivered from the most great hardship and the most difficult affliction. In this huge tempest and violent revolution, in which all nations of the world were caught and were involved in dire calamity, cities were destroyed, people were slaughtered, properties were pillaged and taken as booty, the cries and lamentations of the helpless ones were raised from every prominent spot and the tears falling from the eyes of the orphans like a flowing torrent in all the low countries—under all these conditions, praise be to God, that through the favor and bounty of the Blessed Perfection and because the believers of God have lived in accord with the lordly teachings, they have been protected and guarded. Not even a single particle of dust settled on the face of a believer. Verily, this is a most great miracle which cannot be denied except by every stiff-necked transgressor! It has meanwhile become evident and manifest that the holy teachings of His Highness
BAHA'O'LLAH are the cause of the comfort and illumination of the world of humanity. In the blessed Tablets* (of BAHA'O'LLAH) the justice and the administrative sagacity of the Imperial government of England have been repeatedly dwelt upon, and now it has become clear that, in reality, the inhabitants of this country, after untold sufferings, have attained to composure and security.
This is the first letter that I write to Persia. God willing, I shall write others afterwards. Convey with the utmost longing to each and all the believers of God the wonderful Abha greeting, and give us the glad-tidings of the health and safety of all the believers. Although the tempest and the hurricane were intense and violent, yet, praise be to God, the Ark of Salvation reached the heaven of security, while protected and guarded. Announce greeting and salutation on behalf of Abdul-Baha with the utmost joy and fragrance "to the hands of the Cause of God," his honor Ameen and likewise the rulers of firmness and steadfastness in the Covenant and Testament.
Upon thee be Baha-el-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
LETTER ACCOMPANYING ABOVE TABLET
Tomb of BAHA'O'LLAH, Bahje,
Acca, October 16, 1918.
Through the STAR OF THE WEST to the believers and the maid-servants of the Merciful in America.
My dear brothers and sisters in the Cause of God!
The spiritual life of Bahje is not only contemplative but earnest and active, full of light and beauty, redolent with the fragrance of the Kingdom of Abha and adorned with the roses of high ideals and the violets of noble emotions. Since September 23d, I have written you a number of letters, reporting to you the good news of the health of Abdul-Baha, and giving some sidelights on recent events, so pregnant with far-reaching results for the future of this country. Now I would like to share with you the translation of the first Tablet revealed this afternoon for one of the believers in Teheran, Persia. I hope that ere long America will also receive such divine gifts after a long period of deprivation . . .
Having now accomplished my pleasant duty I add to the above my heartfelt prayers for the wellbeing of all. Your sincere brother,
Ahmad Sohrab.
*See "Tablet of the World," in Tablets of Baha'o'llah, page 33, published by Bahai Publishing Society, Chicago.
Tablets revealed by Abdul-Baha in the winter of 1916-17, but just received in America.
TABLET TO JUANITA STORCH
(Revealed at Haifa, Syria, December 25, 1916, mailed but sent back from Constantinople. Remailed when doors of Holy Land were opened recently and received in California, November 25, 1918.)
To Juanita Storch.
O thou light of the love of God!
Thy detailed letter and also the second one received. Both of them reflected the luminous susceptibilities of a universal consciousness, indicating that (Praise be to God!) that beloved daughter has become like unto a clear mirror, upon the translucent surface of which is focussed the beaming rays of the shining Orb of this century and her heart and spirit is so set aglow with the fire of the love of God, that involuntarily and passionately she is raising the call of the Kingdom of God.
The darkness of the world of nature has encompassed the kingdom of creation. In these tenebrous darknesses tremendous calamities are hidden for mankind, except those souls who have drawn light from the Sun of Reality. These sanctified souls like unto the birds are always soaring, and in the rose-garden of Truth, ever singing songs and melodies. Praise be to God, thou hast a listening ear and didst hear the spiritual lay of the Covenant from a hundred-thousand miles! What a stirring anthem is raised from the Supreme Concourse!—for it imparts joy and exhilaration to the hearts. The attracted hearts are like unto harps and lyres from which continually issues forth a rich stream of harmonious colors, charming notes and divine airs!
O thou beloved daughter! Praise be to God, that thou hast capacity and worthiness, in order to become the maid-servant of the Kingdom of God and in the heavenly festival and spiritual society thou mayst decorate the meeting with the beauties of song and melody. In the world of humanity the "Commonwealth of the Kingdom" is being organized and from this "collective Center," merciful emotions and light-beaming rays are being diffused to all directions. The love of God is the attractive force of this "Ultra-Cosmic-Center."
O thou beloved daughter! At the time when the Light of Reality shone forth from the Mosaic dawning-place, the Mount of Sinai became luminous; but the hearts of the heedless ones remained in intense darkness and they reproached the blessed believing souls. Afterwards they perceived that it was themselves that merited contempt and censure. Likewise, when the Word of God, His Holiness Christ and His apostles upraised the flag of guidance and the Light of Reality dawned, all the people abused and scorned them, as the texts of the Gospel bear testimony to this fact; nay rather, they spat on the holy countenance of Jesus Christ and ridiculed, insulted and vilified Him. Later on, it became manifest that He was the Light of Truth and was bestowing the spirit of eternal life. When in the Arabian peninsula the light of prophethood shone forth and His Holiness Mohammed (Upon Him be peace) engaged His time in the guidance of those barbarous people, everyone reviled and calumniated Him. Their answer was given by divine revelation in the following Koranic verse:
"Woe unto the servants! No prophet cometh unto them, but they laugh him to scorn!" Afterwards it became evident
(Continued on page 173)
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
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. IX
No. 15
"FOURTEEN PEACE POINTS" FOR BAHAIS TO DISCUSS IN PUBLIC MEETINGS.
ALLAH'O'ABHA!
Some years ago, Abdul-Baha gave the following principles or "points" in a Tablet to Mr. C. Mason Remey, dated March 5, 1914. They speak for themselves—
"In those public meetings, universal and not particular principles must be discussed; those principles which I have expounded in the public meetings. Only that identical program must be followed:
- (1) The oneness of the world of humanity.
- (2) The investigation of Reality.
- (3) The essential unity of the Religions of God.
- (4) The abandonment of religious, denominational, racial and patriotic prejudices.
- (5) The conformity of divine Religion with reason and science.
- (6) The Religion of God must become the cause of amity and love amongst mankind, otherwise it is better to forswear it.
- (7) Equality between man and woman.
- (8) The essential necessity of the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.
- (9) The demonstration of divinity and inspiration.
- (10) The power of the (spiritual) influence of BAHA'O'LLAH.
- (11) The underlying unity of all existing faiths.
- (12) The dawn of the Sun of Reality from the horizon of Persia.
- (13) Universal peace.
- (14) Universal language: The education of the children of all the Religions, under a universal standard of instruction and a common curriculum.
"Questions of this nature must be propounded in the public meetings."
—The Editors.
Tablets revealed by Abdul-Baha in the winter of 1916-17
(Continued from page 171)
that that blessed Personage was conducive to the illumination of the peninsula of Arabia, and the cause of the guidance and progress of those tribes who ascended to the supreme apex of eternal felicity. Consequently, do thou not wonder at the ridicule of the ignorant ones and the blame of the witless. Those who are ignorant have always cast reproach upon those who are wise.
Convey longing greeting to all the believers of God.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Signed in Persian and in English)
TABLET TO MRS. PAGE
(A letter dated Haifa, Syria, Jan. 26, 1917, enclosing the following Tablet, was received recently from Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, through Joseph H. Hannen.)
Mrs. Arthur Page.
O thou respected maid-servant of God!
Thou hast written that since two years the fragrance of the rose-garden of BAHA'O'LLAH is being diffused in Detroit, Michigan, and two ministers have invited Bahai speakers to their churches, so that they may speak about divine principles and cause the irradiation of the light of guidance. Praise be to God, the Bahais are characterized with such qualities and attributes that they are the object of the praise and commendation of all nations; they are the means of the proclamation of the oneness of the world of humanity and the promotion of the ideals of universal peace.
Today, the most great foundation of real civilization is this, and this is conducive to the tranquillity of the world of creation.
In this glorious century, this basis is most firm and strong. But there must needs be the power of the Kingdom in order to establish these principles. Because the believers of God are confirmed with the heavenly power, I hope they may enkindle the candles of the oneness of the world of humanity in all the societies of mankind, the anthem of universal peace may reach the East and the West, religion may become the means of good-fellowship amongst the people, justice and equity may unfurl their flags on the apex of the world, religion and science may correspond with each other and be conducive to the promotion of peace and salvation, ignorant prejudices may be dispelled and the lights of Reality be diffused.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
TABLET TO ALBERTA HALL
(Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, December 19, 1916, and mailed, but returned from Constantinople. Remailed upon the opening of the doors of the Holy Land and received recently in America.)
To Miss Alberta Hall.
O thou maid-servant of God!
Although in body thou art weak and ill and, like unto Job, the object of many trials, yet (Praise be to God!) thou art strong in spirit and in the utmost health and joyousness. The peculiarities of this physical world are illness and diseases, and the essences of the universe of God are health and vigor. The body is like unto the lamp and the spirit like unto the light. Praise be to God, that the light is in the utmost brilliancy no matter if the lamp is somewhat affected. May the illumination of the light remain eternal and undying. Thank thou God that the light of thy spirit is burning with the oil of the love of God and its flame is becoming brighter day by day.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
--PHOTOGRAPH--
FEAST OF THE CENTRE OF THE COVENANT ABDUL-BAHA NOV 26, 1918
Kaufmann? Co. Chicago 18 2609
Chicago Assembly celebrates the Day of Abdul-Baha
BY JEAN MASSON.
ON the evening of November 26th, the Bahai Assembly of Chicago celebrated Abdul-Baha's Day, the Day of the Covenant, with a feast given in Grill Hall of the Stevens Building, on Wabash Avenue.
One hundred of the friends of Abdul-Baha participated in this Feast of the Appointment of the Covenant—friends of various nations and races.
It was a rememberable occasion—one to leave its ineffaceable impress. The armistice had been declared. It seemed as if the universal peace, so long and so faithfully anticipated by Bahais, were really established. The prophecies of BAHA'O'LLAH and Abdul-Baha were being swiftly and unerringly fulfilled. The world was a new world, a transformed world, and Bahais rejoiced.
A spirit of sweet communion, a spiritual fragrance, pervaded and dominated the feast. Its theme was the Covenant. Prayer—the compelling words of the Center of the Covenant—opened the meeting:
"Bring them together again, O Lord, by the power of Thy Covenant and gather their dispersion by the might of Thy promise and unite their hearts by the dominion of Thy love and make them love each other, so that they may sacrifice their spirits, expend their money, and scatter themselves for the love of one another.
"O Lord, cause to descend upon them quietness and tranquillity. Shower upon them the clouds of Thy mercy in great abundance and make them to characterize themselves with the characteristics of the spiritual.
"O Lord, make us firm in Thy noble command and bestow upon us Thy gifts, through Thy bounty, grace and munificence.
"Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Merciful and the Benevolent."
There followed the wonderful, unforgettable, altogether impressive words of the Manifestation, read from the Kitab-el-Akdas, proclaiming the station of Abdul-Baha:
"When the ocean of My Presence 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.
"When the Nightingale soareth from the grove of praise and repaireth to the furthermost concealed destination, refer ye that which you understand not from the Book, to the Branch extended from this firm Root."
There were other significant, prophetic, commemorative readings, in which the Revelation is so prolific—words familiar and thrilling to the heart of the whole Bahai world, once heard—never again to be forgotten.
Mr. Vail spoke upon the meaning of the Covenant, prefacing his address with a Tablet, revealed by BAHA'O'LLAH to Abdul-Baha:
"O thou my Greatest Branch, thy letter was surely presented before this oppressed one and We heard that which thou hast communed with God, the Lord of the worlds.
"Verily, We have ordained thee the guardian of all the creatures and a protection to all those in the heavens and earths and a fortress to those who believe in God, the One, the Omniscient.
"I beg of God to protect them by thee; to enrich them by thee; to nourish them by thee and reveal to them that which is the dawning point of riches to the people of creation and the ocean of generosity to those in the world and the rising point of favor to all nations. Verily, He is the Powerful, the All-Knowing and the Wise!
"I beg of Him to water the earth and all that is in it by thee, that there may
spring up from it the flowers of wisdom and revelation and the hyacinths of science and knowledge. Verily, He is the friend to those who love Him, and an assistant to those who commune with Him.
"There is no God but Him, the Mighty and the Magnified!"
The passing of the old, the establishment of the new Covenant among men, which is but the completion of spiritual evolution in the human race—the establishment of the new civilization upon the earth—the supreme function of the Covenant in that establishment—all Mr. Vail eloquently dwelt upon in his approach of a subject, today so infinitely beyond our complete comprehension.
Dr. Bagdadi spoke effectively of the dynamic, unifying power of the Covenant and the absolute necessity of a Center toward which all can turn in unity and harmony and love. He cited the numerous sects of Christianity and other established religions, as a resultant of the absence of an authoritative Center after the passing of the founder.
In the Bahai Movement, no opportunity exists for schisms or disastrous counter movements, for he who turns his face from the Center of the Covenant is not a Bahai, has no place in the Bahai Movement. The true Bahai keeps his face fixed unalterably upon that radiant Center, from which there is no wavering, neither shadow of turning. So Dr. Bagdadi.
Today, when all Bahais are looking with fervent hope toward the East and the possibility of the coming of Abdul-Baha again to America and the possibility of his laying the corner-stone of the great Temple, the Mashrekol-azkar occupies much of the thought of Bahais. And no meeting is complete without mention of this institution. Mrs. True presented the subject. Indeed, this seems to be the subject of subjects for Mrs. True's presentation, so long and so intimately has she dwelt with it, so deeply has she penetrated into its mysteries.
A feature of this Feast of the Covenant was the large contingent of our colored friends present, deeply moved by the pervasive spirit of good-fellowship, so typical of all Bahai meetings, where the different races unite in worship.
Musical numbers interspersed the readings. There was chanting by Zeenat Khanom. Dr. Bagdadi sang a Persian poem, composed several years ago by Bahai students at Beirut College, in praise and glorification of the Center of the Covenant. After each verse an Arabic refrain was taken up by a chorus of voices: "Fal-ya-ish Ghusnol-baka Hazraty Abdul-Baha!" ("Long live the Branch of Eternity, His Holiness Abdul-Baha!")
Today, because of our childish and superficial understanding, inadequately, irreverently, perhaps, we pay homage before the shrine of the Covenant. And yet, in all sincerity we offer our allegiance. Adequately shall future generations worship, gathered under the dome of the great Mashrekol-azkar—monument to the glory of BAHA'O'LLAH and the spiritual supremacy of His Covenant.
Future generations—shall they not remember, that we too worshipped, undeviatingly, before the Holy of Holies; that we sang, while our hearts thrilled with emotion, "Long live the Branch of Eternity, His Holiness Abdul-Baha?"
