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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 Sharaf 1, 74 (December 31, 1918) No. 16
Stories Children Should Know
Compiled from the Words of Baha'o'llah and Abdul-Baha to assist Parents and Teachers in the Education of Children—A Sequel to "Bahai Methods of Education," published in the current Volume of the "Star of the West"
BY PAULINE A. HANNEN
Stories about Baha'o'llah
INCIDENT IN THE CHILDHOOD OF BAHA'O'LLAH.
Revealed by BAHA'O'LLAH in a Tablet.
WHEN this youth was a child and had not yet reached the age of maturity, one of my brothers intended to marry in Teheran and, according to the custom of that country, for seven days and nights they were engaged in feasting and banqueting.
The program for the last day of the entertainment for the guests was the play of the "Sultan Salim." The ministers, the grandees and officials of the city were there in a great throng, and this youth was sitting in one of the galleries of this building and was observing the scenes.
Then they raised a great tent in the midst of the court; representations of human forms, only a few inches in height, would come out of the tent and cry: "The king is coming, arrange the seats in order!" Then the other figures came out, sweeping the ground, while a number were sprinkling the streets with water; then another picture was presented, who was supposed to be the herald, acquainting the people to be ready for review for his majesty the sultan. Then the ministers came, with hat and shawl, according to the Persian custom; others were present with clubs while a number of others were garbed as chamberlains, aides-de-camp, ferrashes and executioners with instruments of punishment. All these men were lined according to their stations and class. At last the king appeared, with sovereign power and shining diadem upon his head and with splendor and glory walked slowly and majestically, and with perfect calmness, tranquillity and composure, seated himself upon the throne. At that moment the noise of the guns and the music of the national anthem was raised, and the smoke surrounded the tent and the king. When the air was cleared, it was seen that the king was on his throne, and the ministers and magistrates and secretaries had taken their places according to their rank. Immediately a thief, captured by the police, was brought before the king, and a royal order was issued to behead him. Then the chief of the executioners took the captive and decapitated him, and a red fluid, which was like blood, was seen by all the spectators. While the sultan was seen consulting with some of his ministers, the news was brought in that a certain person had
(Continued on page 182)
A recent letter from the Holy Land
Haifa, Syria. Oct. 10, 1918.
Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, Chicago, U. S. A.
My dear Bahai brother:
It is very delightful indeed to be able to resume correspondence with you and other dear American sisters and brothers. By this time you have probably heard that Haifa was taken on the 23rd of September, and the poor inhabitants were freed from the oppressions to which they had been subject for more than four years.
Abdul-Baha also felt very happy through this change, for as you know it was the firm belief of the Turks that he was favoring the English. At the instigation and intrigue of the abominable Mohamed Ali, every now and then some new trouble would arise. You know perfectly well the old corrupted government. But at any time the power of BAHA'O'LLAH would surpass all their underhanded means of enmity and would help the Center of His Covenant to conquer all their mean efforts against him. For instance: Jamal Pasha, while marching towards the Suez Canal three years ago had said in Jerusalem, "The Christian Bahais consider Abdul-Baha as Christ. After my conquest of Egypt, I shall crucify him just as the former Christ was." But the shells from the English cannon did not give him time to reach his goal.
I do not want to speak against anybody, but simply to tell you that all the time inimical efforts have been directed against the Beloved of our hearts and always the power of the Holy Ghost has rendered their efforts null.
All members of your dear family are well at Adana, which we hope will be taken soon.
With the present circumstances, we hope that the international peace will, before long, be established, and the nations of the world will change their hostility to friendship and amity. For this we pray day and night.
I believe this terrible war will bring the thinkers of the nations to the consciousness of the value of the divine principles set forth by the Supreme Pen of BAHA'O'LLAH. One year before the outbreak of the war, Abdul-Baha traveled all over America and Europe and exclaimed in large assemblies and congregations, that Europe had become an arsenal, and it was waiting for a single spark to explode. If the civilized people had listened to this divine call and warning, humanity would not have suffered from all these unspeakable horrors.
But after the war, we hope that the Bahais, who love all the nations of the world and consider them as the leaves of one branch and fruits of one tree, will do their best, and through the divine force, will be able to remove the means of hostility among the nations. Strangers to the Cause of God probably disregard this divine force active in the Bahai Religion, but the Bahais cannot do so, for they have seen that within a period of about half a century, in spite of the despotic persecution of the Shah of Persia and Abdul Hamid, this divine force emanated from the prison walls of Acca and united approximately four millions of Persians, English, French, Germans, Americans, Indians, Japanese, et al., or in other words, four millions of Hindus, Mohammedans, Christians,
Jews, Zoroastrians, etc., together as members of one family. This divine force has not been so active and effective in any previous religion. Ahmad will see you soon. Love to all dear ones,
Your brother
Aziz.
"The war was not an act of God"
"I hope that the war may soon come to an end, so that I may again look in the faces of the believers. It will be a great joy to me. This war lasted very long, but it had to come. The corrupt world needed such a purification. The war was not an act of God, but rather the results of the accumulation of our own evil deeds. Because peoples and nations did not act in accordance with justice, and tyrannized innocent men, this war had to sweep away all remnants of autocracy, absolutism and militarism, and usher in an era of democracy, equality before the law, and international peace."
(Words of Abdul-Baha spoken October 19, 1918, to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab and recorded in a letter to Miss Juliet Thompson just received in America.)
Letter to Pauline A. Hannen
October 15, 1918.
Haifa, Palestine.
To Mrs. Pauline Hannen, Washington, D. C.
My very dear sister in the love of the Covenant!
Abdul-Baha loves you because you are an active maid-servant of the Cause, the believers love you because you are ever ready to help them. Just the other night the Beloved mentioned your name and praised your whole hearted devotion to the Truth.
[Here a portion was cut out by the Censor] . . . . . reviving in one's mind the old portraits of history—Richard the Lion-hearted, St. Louis, Frederick Barbarossa, Napoleon, Mohammed Ali Pasha and their fire-breathing legions—many of their officers
(Continued on page 182)
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. 16
Editorial—Let us build the Temple
BY ALBERT VAIL
TWO calls ring like a divine bell in this clear morning of universal peace. The one is: Teach the Cause, send forth teachers, awaken the souls, ignite the hearts and unite them into the Kingdom of God; the other is to build the Mashrekol-azkar. Both are the call of Him who is Most Glorious to build the temple of the oneness of humanity, and celebrate the jubilee of the oneness of humanity. The real stones of both temples are the radiant and united believers. "O Lord," prays the Master-Builder, "make these holy souls dawning-points of lights and the manifestations of signs. Make every one a leading corner-stone in this great edifice, a pillar of the pillars."
The Master-Builder is still in our midst waiting to lay the foundation of both temples, the temple of the oneness of humanity and the temple of stone that, like an evident standard, shall shine in the center of the continent of America proclaiming in words of concrete form and splendor the universal perfection, the practical applications, the divine reality of the Most Great Cause to all the multitudes who shall pass its gates or hear of its beauty. There is a mystery in the building of the Mashrekol-azkar, declares Abdul-Baha, which we do not comprehend. It will attract thousands of people to investigate the Cause. It will exert upon all our civilization a tremendous effect. It is on earth "the inception of the organization of the Kingdom," that Kingdom wherein all sects and religions and races shall march to the music of "Ya-Baha-el-Abha" down the nine avenues of the different religions into the Temple of God's oneness.
To be perfect, this first Mashrekol-azkar in America must be designed by the Master's own hand. He will not much longer be in this world. If he is to approve, complete, perfect the architectural plans, his children, his servants must act quickly. It is worth a great sacrifice if we may give the gift which will enable the Center of the Covenant to lay the foundation of this the mother, the model Mashrekol-azkar of the western world. Divine believers in the Orient, who will never worship under its shining dome, sold even their clothing to give money for its construction. May not an
equal fire of sacrifice enkindle the hearts of the American friends until they raise the last hundred-thousand and invite the Master to come to our shores, prepare the plans and lay the foundation? Then will our hearts through all the ages of eternal life throb with joy that we sacrificed our money, our comforts, our time, our love to build the temple in the days of the Covenant.
Mashrekol-azkar Day—Receipts for November and December Building Fund
At the New York city Mashrekol-azkar Convention it was recommended "that upon selected days, to be fixed by the Executive Board, meetings be held by each local assembly at which all shall be welcome, and the endeavor be to acquaint the friends and all interested in the establishment of a universal spiritual Edifice, with the purpose, meaning and importance of the Mashrekel-azkar—provided, however, that His Holiness the Centre of the Covenant, shall first approve of the fixing of these uniform dates by the Executive Board." (STAR OF THE WEST, Vol. 4, No. 8, p. 146.)
In reply to their supplication the following from Abdul-Baha was received: "If you appoint a special day of every month—that is, the ninth day of every month—for consultations regarding the Mashrekol-azkar, it will be favorable." (STAR OF THE WEST, Vol. 4, No. 9, p. 160.)
Recently such a fragrant meeting was held by the Chicago Assembly on that day, that the Financial-Secretary wishes to remind the readers of the STAR OF THE WEST of the above important facts, and urge the friends throughout America to commemorate the ninth day of each month as Mashrekol-azkar day, thus stimulating the great work for the erection of the Mashrekol-azkar.
| Balance, November 1st, 1918 | $128,689.88 |
| Received during November | 2,176.41 |
| Received during December | 4,139.14 |
| Total January 1st, 1919 | $135,005.43 |
Corinne True, Financial Secretary.
The Teaching Campaign
The teachers are starting forth to scatter broadcast the seeds of the Kingdom. In the great progressive West, Mrs. Brittingham and Mrs. Killius and others have been spreading in new districts the divine seed ever since the five teaching Tablets reached America. So have Mrs. Maxwell, Miss Jack, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Tate, Mr. Remey, Mrs. Hoagg, Mother Beecher and others in the East and North and South. Miss Jack is soon to leave Chicago for Winnipeg. Mr. Vail is arranging a series of visits to new cities and districts in the Central West. Mr. Remey is soon to start for a long journey through the South. With great joy will the STAR OF THE WEST receive and publish news of the activities of the teachers in America and the world and the glad tidings of "the majestic onward march of the Cause of God" in these the dawning hours of the Kingdom of the Most Great Peace among all peoples and nations.
A. R. V.
Letter to Pauline A. Hannen
(Continued from page 179)
of prominence meet the beloved Abdul-Baha daily and converse with him on the problems of peace and war, the rights and duties of small nations, the advisability of the formation of the league of peoples and the necessity for the organization of a strong executive power which may be able to back up the ideals of universal brotherhood and peace. I may record herein the names of some of these officers—so that our friends in the West may get an idea of those with whom Abdul-Baha is meeting. Amongst others . . . . [Here a number of lines were cut out by the Censor] . . . . .eager to hear the constructive teachings of this movement and visit the Holy Tomb of the Blessed Beauty with the utmost reverence and respect. Many of them are more or less acquainted with the Cause and know and are informed of the broad outline of its history. When on September 23rd, the conquering General and his English and Indian Cavalry entered Haifa, one of the first questions that he asked of the President of Municipality was about the health of "His Excellency" Abdul-Baha, the head of the Bahai Movement and whether the Turks in any way had in the past few years molested his tranquillity and quiet life. Being assured that God has protected him and his followers, the General was satisfied and later in the afternoon of the same day, he sent his aid-de-camps to Abdul-Baha's home to meet him and make personal inquiries about his health. Next morning he called himself and had a pleasant interview. Three days later, Col. Stores, the Military Governor of Jerusalem, who was acquainted with Abdul-Baha when in Egypt, came to Haifa in his own automobile to meet him and after his warm reception informed the Cairo believers by cable that Abdul-Baha was enjoying good health.
In short, the atmosphere of Acca and Haifa is quite changed. It is more intellectual, more spiritual, more fraught with activity and freedom.
Your sincere brother,
Ahmad Sohrab.
Stories Children Should Know—Stories about Baha'o'llah
(Continued from page 177)
become a rebel. The sultan issued orders that several regiments of soldiers and artillery men be sent to the scene and quell the disturbance. After a few minutes the thunderous noise of guns and artillery was heard behind the tent and we were told they were engaged in battle.
This youth became astonished and bewildered at these affairs. Then the review ended and the curtain descended.
After twenty minutes a man came out from behind the tent with a box under his arm. I asked him, "What is this box? Where is the king and all the men?" He answered, that all these great things and manifest objects, such as kings, princes and ministers, glory, power, majesty and sovereignty that I beheld were inclosed in this box.
I declare by the Lord, Who hath created all things through His Word, that from that day all the conditions of this world and its greatness have been like that play before the eyes of this youth.
(Extract from Tablet to the Sultan of Turkey. From Star of the West, Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 3.)
VISION OF BAHA'O'LLAH AT THE AGE OF SIX YEARS.
He saw himself fall into the sea. In the water his long hair became shining
like the sun, and spread out around him like a golden net. All the fishes, large and small, came swimming towards him, holding to the strands of his hair. The fishes came closer and closer, following him as he swam through the waters which were shining like the sun. The fishes were countless in number. Abdul Karim, a wise man who interpreted visions for the kings, was told of this vision by the father of BAHA'O'LLAH. Abdul Karim answered: "Your son will be a great man. The water is knowledge, the fishes swimming about him are the people of all nations who will come to be taught by his wisdom. He will be forced away and separated from earthly things, and will reflect the light of the Word of God."
(Words of Moneera Khanom, Wife of Abdul-Baha. From Ten Days in the Light of Acca, page 88.)
BAHA'O'LLAH AS A DERVISH IN THE MOUNTAINS.
A boy, attending a, village school, had been flogged and sent out for failure in his writing. While he was weeping outside the schoolroom, this holy man came by and asked the cause of his grief. When the lad had explained his trouble the dervish said: "Do not grieve, I will set you another copy, and teach you to write well." He then took the boy's slate and wrote some words in very beautiful characters. The boy was delighted, and showing his slate in pride at now having a better master than he had had in the school, the people were astonished, dervishes being commonly illiterate. They then began to follow the dervish who wishing to meditate and pray in solitude, left that place for another.
(Words of Behiah Khanum, sister of Abdul-Baha. From Abbas Effendi, His Life and Teachings, by Myron H. Phelps, p. 22.)
THE STORY OF THE PATROL.
As told by BAHA'O'LLAH.
It is related that a lover was suffering for years in separation from his beloved and burning in the fire of absence from her. By the overwhelming strength of love his breast was void of patience and his body would fain shun the soul. He accounted life in separation as a sham and suffered intense burning on account of the world. Many were the days he found no rest in separation from her, and the nights that he slept not through grief for her. Through the languor of body he had become as a sigh, and by the heart's pain he was (in lament) as a woe. He would freely give a thousand lives for a single draught of her nearness, and yet this was not feasible! Physicians despaired of healing him, and companions kept far from his fellowship. Yea, physicians know no healing for the one diseased of love, except the favor of the beloved one come to his succor!
At length, the tree of his hope brought the fruit of despair, and the fire of his expectancy was quenched; until, one night, he was wearied of life and abandoned home for the streets. Suddenly a patrol pursued him. He was urging on at the front while the patrol sped in his chase. Finally, the patrols formed into a gathering and barred the way of flight for that afflicted one. He, helpless, groaned with all his heart and ran hither and thither, soliloquizing in these words: "This patrol is my angel of death, for he is seeking after me in such haste. Or, is he a tyrant of countries who is intent on oppressing men!" Thus, that one, pierced with the arrow of love, was running with the feet and lamenting in heart, until he reached the wall of a garden and climbed it with a thousand difficulties and afflictions, for it was found to be a very lofty wall. Then, regardless of his life, he threw himself down into the garden. But behold,
there he found his beloved, with a light in her hand, searching for a ring she had lost! When that heart-surrendered lover saw his heart-ravishing beloved one, he heaved a sigh and stretched forth his hands in prayer: "O God! Bestow honor on this patrol, bless him with wealth, and preserve him; for this patrol was Gabriel, who became the guide of this infirm one. He was a Seraph who imparted life to this humble one!"
(From the Seven Valleys, page 17.)
DESCRIPTION OF A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
As told by Abdul-Baha.
Outside of Teheran we had a great park planted by the father of the Blessed Perfection, BAHA'O'LLAH. This was a wonderful garden. It contained four gates, eastern, western, northern and southern. As you entered the eastern gate, the western gate was visible, and similarly from the northern gate you could see the southern gate. In the center of the garden a great throne was built, and four straight avenues branched off toward the gates, so that you could see all four gates as you sat on the throne. On both sides of these avenues poplar trees were planted, to the number of ten thousand. These trees arose erect and majestic toward the sky. Under the trees thousands of rose bushes were planted, the fragrance of which filled the air. Often we used to sleep at night on this throne. The moon, clear, full, silvery, shone upon us, the galaxies of stars shedding their rays, now faintly and again with a lustrous twinkle over the calm and mystic scene of the garden. Long before sunrise I would open my eyes, admiring with wonder this infinite universe of God. Then all at once the nightingales in sweet melodies would break into a concert of divine music, the gentle mumur of the rills flowing in from all sides reaching to the ears and the zephyrs would pass through the leaves making the noise of a soft sweeping hand-clap and applause. In the early mornings the Blessed Perfection would arise and prepare tea for all of us, and while the sun was dawning from the eastern horizon we would gather around Him, drinking tea and enjoying the heavenly scene all around us.
(Then Abdul-Baha, started to walk through the rose-garden, now and then standing before a rosebush and deeply contemplating its construction and petals. Looking at a rose which was very like an American Beauty, he said:)
"When we arrived in Constantinople it was just at this season [September]. The garden of the house wherein we lived contained one rosebush, on every branch of which one rose blossomed forth after sunset. The believers not having seen roses at this season were overjoyed, and until late at night were gathered around it."
(Then he passed by, himself a unique rose in the garden of the world of humanity, the fragrance of which has filled all creation!)
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, September 19, 1913.)
(To be continued)
POST CARD RECEIVED BY THE BAHAI ASSEMBLY OF CHICAGO
My dear brothers and sisters:
Haifa, Palestine, December 1, 1918.
Abdul-Baha calls us today to the solution of great world problems. We must not remain behind, but be in the vanguard of the forces of the new civilization. We must first renew ourselves from top to bottom and then induce others to do the same. All our past efforts in comparison to the efforts that we have to make in the near future have been pastimes. We must be ready and put our house in order, so that we may be able to undertake the great work that will be presented to us before long. "Vigilance and preparedness" must be our motto. Bahai greetings . . . . Ahmad Sohrab.
