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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 Mulk 1, 74 (February 7, 1919) No. 18
Stories Children Should Know
Second article under this heading; the first appeared in issue No. 16, page 177
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
Incidents in the Childhood of Abdul-Baha
IT is good to be a spreader of the Teachings of God in childhood. I was a teacher in this Cause at the age of this child (eight or nine years). This reminds me of a story. There was a man, highly educated, but not a Bahai. I, but a child, was to make of him a believer. The brother of this man brought him to me. I stayed with him, to teach him. He said, "I am not convinced, I am not satisfied." I answered, "If water were offered to a thirsty one, he would drink and be satisfied. He would take the glass. But you are not thirsty. Were you thirsty, then you too would be satisfied. A man with seeing eyes sees. I can speak of the sun to every seeing one, and say it is a sign of the day; but a blind person would not be convinced because he cannot see the sun. If I say to a man with good hearing, listen to the beautiful music, he would then listen and be made happy thereby. But if you play the most beautiful music in the presence of a deaf man, he would hear nothing. Now go and receive seeing eyes and hearing ears, then I will speak further with you on this subject." He went; but later he returned. Then he understood and became a good Bahai. This happened when I was very young.
(Told in Stuttgart, Germany, April 4, 1913.)
When I was a little boy in Teheran I was followed and beaten by the boys and the people because I was a Babi, but my own people were very glad of this, for they knew that the power of God is manifested in persecution. If the tree is watered by the rain and the sun shines upon it, is it any worse for it if a little dust falls upon its leaves? If the father is pleased with his child what does it care about the neighbor's opinion?
(From Book of Miscellany, etc., p. 54.)
I cared more for hearing the Tablets of the Báb recited than anything else. I used to commit them to memory and repeat them. This was the greatest pleasure I knew in my childhood—my play and amusement. I was not fond of study, nor did I care for books.
At Bagdad I rode on horse back; at one time I had an idea that I would
like to hunt. So on a certain occasion I joined a party of hunters and went with them to the chase. But when I saw them killing birds and animals, I thought this could not be right. Then it occurred to me that better than hunting for animals, to kill them, was hunting for souls of men to bring them to God. I then resolved that I would be a hunter of this sort. This was my first and last experience in the chase.
(Footnotes from Abbas Effendi, His Life and Teachings, page 20.)
At the time when all the inhabitants of Teheran had arisen against the Cause, and the Blessed Perfection was arrested and thrown into a prison, I was a very young child. The jail wherein BAHA'O'LLAH was imprisoned was a dark and gloomy cell, underground, and had no aperture, no window save a small door. When the door was unlocked one had to descend many rickety steps before reaching the gloomy, stuffy ground floor. The name of the jailer was Agha Bozorg, and he was an inhabitant of the city of Gazwin. As in the past he had received many favors, bounties and kindnesses from the beloved hands of BAHA'O'LLAH, he came one day to our house and took me with him to see my father. Descending half the stairs of the cell, I peered through the darkness to try and see someone. Everything was pitch darkness. Suddenly, I heard the wonderful, resonant voice of the Blessed Perfection: "Take this child away! Do not let him come in!" Obeying the words of BAHA'O'LLAH, the jailer took me out and said: "Sit down here and be patient. About noon the prisoners are taken out, and then you can see your father." I sat there. A little after twelve they brought the prisoners out and among them I saw the Blessed Perfection. A thick heavy chain called, gare kahar, the heaviest and thickest chain of the time, was placed about his holy feet, the end of which dragged along the ground. His neck was also chained with heavy fetters and his hands manacled. Mirza Mahmoud, a most wonderful Bahai, was the fellow prisoner of BAHA'O'LLAH. They were chained together. A common, ordinary felt hat, the top of which was out and the fringe torn and soiled, was on his blessed head. I cannot describe to you the pain and anguish that attacked and tortured me by this sight of the Manifestation.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Feb. 22, 1914.)
When BAHA'O'LLAH was imprisoned and chains were around his neck, Abdul-Baha, then eight years old, was with some of the believers in another place. The people finally captured him also. The boys of this place gathered together and began to beat him; about two or three hundred children surrounded him. They beat him severely on the head, cursed him and otherwise persecuted him.
(Notes of three pilgrims to Acca, September, 1901.)
We found Abbas Effendi (Abdul-Baha) surrounded by a band of boys who had undertaken personally to molest him. He was standing in their midst as straight as an arrow—a little fellow, the youngest and smallest of the group—firmly but quietly commanding them not to lay their hands upon him, which, strange to say, they seemed unable to do.
(Words of Beheyah Khanom, sister of Abdul-Baha. From Abbas Effendi, His Life and Teachings, page 14.)
Although he (Abdul-Baha) had not studied in any school, yet, from his youth, fountains of knowledge flowed in his fluent explanations. The first
trace which emanated from his holy being in the world of knowledge was the treatise he wrote in his early youth at Bagdad. This was a commentary upon the holy tradition: "I was an invisible Treasury; as I loved to be known, therefore I created men to know Me." He wrote this commentary in answer to the request of one of the Pashas. The author (Abul Fazl) was present at a meeting when some one asked Haji Seyd-Jawad Taba-Tabay of Kerbela concerning the life of BAHA'O'LLAH. The great Seyd answered: "That holy being must be a shining light whose great son hath written such a treatise during his childhood."
(Words of Mirza Abul Fazl. From The Bahai Proofs.)
In Bagdad I was a child nine years old. There and then he, BAHA'O'LLAH, announced to me the Word, and I believed him. As soon as he proclaimed to me the Word I threw myself at his holy feet and implored and supplicated him to accept this one drop of blood as a sacrifice in his pathway.
(Words of Abdul-Baha. From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Jan. 13, 1914.)
Stories told by Abdul-Baha
THE BOX OF JEWELS.
Once upon a time, there was a king who went out to hunt with all the members of his cabinet, the diplomats, the officials of the court and a large number of important personages, especially invited for this occasion. As the king intended to stay in the country all summer he ordered the master of ceremonies to take the imperial tent which was a wonderful work of art, for the king on important occasions had ordered the inside walls and the ceiling of this royal tent to be decorated with hundreds of precious jewels, the price of which could not be measured by dollars and cents. This year also he asked the minister of finance to take with him the large box of jewels. Finally after many days of preparation the imperial caravan, which was more than a mile long, started out. The king headed the procession. After him came the cabinet ministers, the diplomatic corps, the courtiers and the guests. They had to travel six days before they could reach the hunting ground. On the fourth day of traveling it so happened that the horse carrying the box of jewels was toward the end of the caravan. After three hours' march the king looked around and to his apparent surprise, found no one with him but Ayas and he observed the caravan more than half a mile away from him surrounded with dust and in great confusion. "What is this?" asked the king. "Half an hour ago," Ayas humbly answered, "the box with the jewels fell from the back of the horse and all of the precious stones were scattered on the ground. Then I saw that a wild scramble followed, everyone forgot his duty and each one tried to collect those jewels." The king did not move nor show that an extraordinary event had happened. "Ayas!" the king said after a few moments of reflection, "Why did you not join them and get a portion of the spoil? Are they not precious jewels?" "Yes, my lord! Those jewels are good for them, I preferred to be with thee. Thou art the greatest jewel of my life."
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 8, 1913.)
THE SHEPHERD OF BAHA'O'LLAH.
Abdul-Baha took little Mona in his arms and kissed her on both cheeks, and started to talk with her. "Are you
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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. IX
No. 18
French or English?" he asked. Being shy, she did not answer. "If the people ask you whether you are English or French, tell them you are a Bahai. Once upon a time there was a shepherd who tended the sheep of Hossein Ali (BAHA'O'LLAH). He was a very simple man. He could neither read nor write. His neighbors would come and ask him: 'Art thou a Mussulman, a Jew or a Christian?' He did not know how to answer them, but after a moment of reflection he would say, 'I don't really understand your question, but all that I know is that I am the shepherd of Hossein Ali.' . . . . Thou art my daughter, my dear little daughter. I want to slap you!" and with great gentleness he patted her cheeks and back.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Oct. 16, 1913.)
THE WORLDLY KING'S LAMENT.
It is related that Saboktakeen, one of the renowned ancient kings of Persia, lived in the utmost grandeur and splendor. His palace was like unto the delectable paradise, and his table was provided with royal bounty and his life was like unto a stream of milk and honey. His treasuries were full and his riches unlimited. He was in the utmost joy and happiness. Suddenly he was attacked with a malady and was burning away like unto a candle, and with Jeremiads of disappointments he was singing the most mournful tunes. When he became hopeless of this life, three days before his death, he commanded all his chamberlains, wearing golden girdles, to form a long line, and ordered all the ladies-in-waiting to present themselves before him. His treasures and all his precious jewels were on display before his eyes, and his accumulated wealth was arrayed in dazzling fashion. Then he invited his ministers, courtiers and statesmen to be present in the throne room on a certain hour, and asked his immense army to be engaged in the manoeuvres of victory and triumph in the military square in front of the palace. While sitting on his throne, he looked regretfully, now on this scene, now on another, and again on all this matchless array of grandeur and magnificence and wept most bitterly, crying aloud: "O! Why must I be deprived of this imperial sovereignty and these royal prerogatives? Why should I not enjoy this life? Why bid farewell to all these things? How can I leave them behind and hasten empty-handed from this
world to another world?" He wept and wept till he drew his last breath.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 25, 1914.)
KINDNESS TO BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
Did you hear the cooing of the doves? Just now some one fired a gun and they all became silent. How sweetly they coo. How lovely it is to see them enjoying their unrestricted freedom! Is it not cruel to kill these sweet little birds? How much better to see them tamed through the gentleness of man! In many countries of the West, laws are enacted to restrict the cruelty of man toward animals, and in some states they can be hunted only at certain seasons. When I was in America, I went through several large Zoological Gardens, some of which covered many acres. In these gardens hunting is strictly prohibited. There are other large National Parks in Western America which I have not seen, where I have been told, gazelle and deer roam at will and man is not allowed to interfere with their freedom. In these places the animals become so tame that they associate with men. How ideal this is; how perfect, how good!
One day when we were in Bagdad, a company of small birds took refuge in a tree, because they were chased by a hawk. Someone took a gun and fired at the hawk. It fell to the ground dead. The birds became very happy and flew away, circling in the air and singing songs of joy.
Another day we went from Bagdad to Salmani Park, a village several miles from Bagdad. On the way I saw a large bush of thistle, under which numerous sparrows had gathered and over which perched a hawk. The poor sparrows, having seen the hawk, had sought shelter under the clump of thistle and the hawk had followed them. However, fate was against it, for one of the thorns had pierced its breast, causing its death. The sparrows, unaware of this fact, continued to remain there until they died of starvation.
Another day the Blessed Beauty, BAHA'O'LLAH, desired to go to Salmani Park. This village was a country place and its climate being fine, BAHA'O'LLAH liked to go there. A fine white donkey was brought, upon which he rode while several of us followed on foot. When we reached the place, we asked the keeper of the Mohammedan shrine, whether he had anything for us to eat. He had nothing, but told us there was a little hamlet six miles away, where one could buy eggs. At this moment the Blessed Beauty heard our voices and came out of the room. He said: "Tonight, I will cook for you a nice dish." When the time arrived, he said to us: "Bring some dates and butter and I will cook for you a Kurdish dish. Put the butter in the pan, let it be boiled, then pit the dates and put them in. Then stir all with a spoon until they are well mixed." We followed his advice, and the dish turned out to be very delicious. Up to the present time the taste of that dish is in my mouth.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Oct. 16, 1914.)
THE INNOCENT BIRDS.
There was a man by the name of Haji Mohammed Taki Shirazi, who had joined our company. He was a great hunter. He was such a fine marksman that while his horse was galloping he could shoot birds on the wing. Riding on his horse, with his gun, he followed us. "Don't kill these innocent birds!" BAHA'O'LLAH said. But the man paid no attention. Without exaggeration, he fired on that day five or six hundred shots but without killing one bird. On our return trip we saw a crane. It was very large. This bird rises very slowly from the ground, but once in the air it flies very rapidly.
When Haji Mohammed Taki saw this crane, he became elated, because he thought he could show his skill here. The bird had just risen from the ground, when he fired the first shot and missed. He fired four more times without success. By this time the bird was high in the air, and he thought now he would surely bring it to the ground and again fired two shots and missed. Because he disobeyed BAHA'O'LLAH, he did not succeed and not a single bullet found its mark.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Oct. 16, 1914.)
OBEDIENCE.
During the war against a foreign nation one of the soldiers was stricken with a severe sickness. The military doctor, observing his case, recommended him to the sentry. "Do as I tell you," he said. "This man will not sleep tonight. It is the crucial night of his sickness, but tomorrow morning he will feel much better. Nurse him very carefully and watch over him all night." The doctor went and after sunset the sentry came around to take his position. After an hour or two, he saw the sick man was getting worse, bemoaning and lamenting loudly. In order to alleviate his pain, he gave him an opium pill. As a result of this, he slept soundly all night. In the morning, the doctor came and saw that the condition of the patient was worse than the day before. Not being able to explain this relapse, he sent for the sentry. "What did you give him last night?" "Oh! he was so frantic with pain that I gave him only a pill of opium, after which he slept quietly, all night." "Did you think, that I, a doctor, didn't know this remedy just as well, but I did not give it to him because it would have made him worse?" "What could I do? On my watch-night I wanted to sleep, and this patient disturbed my sleep. I gave him an opium pill and it served its purpose. Tonight there will be another watchman. If the patient is getting worse, it does not trouble me in the least."
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Aug. 25, 1913.)
INFLUENCE OF MOHAMMED.
When the Mohammedans came and conquered Persia, the chief of the Zoroastrian high priests went to drink wine. Wine is unlawful according to the Mohammedan religion. Whosoever drinks wine is, according to the Mohammedan law, to be punished by eighty-one strokes of the whip. As the chief of the Zoroastrian high priests did drink wine, the Moslems arrested him, tied, struck and whipped him. The Arabs were looked upon as very low by the Persians, and as His Holiness Mohammed was an Arab, the Persians shunned him very much; that is, the Persians would not even count the Arabs as human beings. But when the high priest saw such a power coming forth from the Arabs, whom they had always looked upon as being not even human beings, he began to cry out, saying, "O thou Arabian Mohammed! What hast thou done? What hast thou done which has made thy people arrest the chief, the high priest of the Zoroastrians because he has committed something that is unlawful in thy religion?" Thus was the cause overcome which had caused the Zoroastrian high priest to shun the Mohammedan religion. For he said: "What a great influence Mohammed is exercising!"
(From Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 3, p. 13.)
REAL CONTENTMENT.
Once upon a time, Salman called on Abouzar. When the lunch time came around, the host brought two loaves of bread and some salt. There was nothing
else in the house. Salman, as though talking to himself, said: "I wish there were a little cheese!" Abouzar, feeling ashamed, went out, sold his only goat, bought the cheese and brought it to the table. The guest helped himself generously, and when he was quite satisfied, he raised his hands towards heaven and prayed: "Blessed are those who are satisfied with very little, and are contented." Abouzar, feeling the superfluity of such a prayer, said to his friend: "If thou wert really satisfied, and contented I would now have my goat in the house!"
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, May 4, 1914.)
INSINCERITY.
Once a Mohammedan mullah thought that one of his fingers had become impure, because he had touched an unclean article, and consequently he thought that it must be cut off. Passing by the butcher's shop, he stopped and asked the butcher to out off his finger. The butcher was astonished, and refused. The mullah explained his reason, and persisted in his extraordinary demand. "All right," said the butcher at last, "put thy hand on this block of wood and I will cut off thy finger." Then taking his large cutting knife, he brought down, with apparent force, its blunt side on the hand of the mullah. No sooner had the mullah felt the harmless pain, than he pulled away his hand, while crying out and cursing the butcher for his merciless, cruel heart: "O thou tyrant! What have I done to thee that thou wilt thus cut my hand?" he bemoaned. The butcher, realizing the utter weakness of the mullah, laughingly said: "Go to; I did not harm thy hand. Thou coward, I just tested thee to see whether thou art made of heroic stuff." Many people think it is easy to walk in the footsteps of the Apostles, but it is most difficult, it is the task of the superman. Only those are able to do this who are awakened with the outpourings of the new spiritual consciousness in this age.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, June 6, 1914.)
A THANKFUL SUBJECT AND HIS KING.
A great king walking in his garden one day noticed a man, about ninety years old, planting some trees. The king asked what he was doing and the old man answered that he was planting date seeds. "How long before they will bear fruit?" asked the king. "Twenty years," the old man answered. "But you will not live to enjoy the fruit, why then should you plant these trees?" said the king. The man answered: "The last generation planted trees that bore fruit for my benefit, so it is now my duty to plant for the benefit of the next generation."
The king was pleased at this answer so gave the man a piece of money. The gardener fell on his knees and thanked him. The king asked, "Why do you kneel before me?" "Because, your majesty, not only have I had the pleasure or gift of planting these seeds but they have already borne fruit, since you gave me this money." This so pleased the king he gave the man another piece of money.
Again the old gardener knelt, saying, "Again I kneel to thank your majesty. Most trees will bear fruit only once, while these trees of mine have already borne two crops—since you give me two pieces of money."
The king smiled and asked, "How old are you?" The man answered, "I am twelve years old." "How can that be, you are surely a very old man?" The gardener answered, "In the days of the king your predecessor, the people were in a most unhappy state of constant warfare and trouble, so I cannot include that as a part of my life. But since your majesty came to rule, the people
are happy, contented and at peace. Therefore, as it is but twelve years since your gracious reign began, I am only twelve years old." This pleased the king so very much that, perforce, he gave the old man another piece of money, saying, I shall have to leave you now, for your words please me so greatly that if I listen to you longer I shall become a pauper!"
(From Daily Lessons, page 44.)
A THIEF.
There is a Persian story of a thief who, in order to rob a certain house, went to work to undermine the foundation. The owner of the house happened to be on the roof and looking down discovered the thief and asked what he was doing. The man replied, "I am trumpeting." "Trumpeting!" exclaimed the owner, "Why you are not making any noise." "Oh no," answered the thief, "you will hear the noise tomorrow!"
Lesson: You are shouting although you are silent; but your words will be heard in the future. The Words of Christ were not heard until three hundred years after his death.
(From Daily Lessons, page 40.)
THE BITTER MELON.
A master had a slave who was completely devoted to him. One day he gave the slave a melon which when cut open looked most ripe and delicious. The slave ate one piece, then another and another with great relish (the day being warm) until nearly the whole melon had disappeared. The master, picking up the last slice, tasted it and found it exceedingly bitter and unpalatable. "Why, it is bitter! Did you not find it so?" he asked the servant. "Yes, my Master," the slave replied, "it was bitter and unpleasant, but I have tasted so much sweetness from thy hand that one bitter melon was not worth mentioning.
(From Ten Days in the Light of Acca, page 109.)
LEST WE FORGET.
A certain king had a subject who having by a heroic action rescued the king from a great peril, was raised to a position of honor in the royal court. Here he continued to please the king and finally came to occupy an apartment in the palace close to the imperial chambers. The other courtiers of the king naturally became very jealous and lost no opportunity of carrying tales to the king, seeking to lower his opinion of the fortunate subject. One day they reported to the king that this man was unfaithful and dishonorable; that each night after everything was quiet in the palace, it was his custom to go stealthily to a room in a remote corner of the palace carrying a bundle of stolen valuables which he hid there. The curiosity of the king was aroused. He watched and found the report true. Thereupon, he summoned his retinue and next evening when the subject had gone to the room as usual, the king quickly followed, knocked upon the door and demanded entrance. When the door opened, nothing was seen in the room but a dilapidated bed, some old clothes and the suspected servant. "What does this mean?" demanded the king, "Why do you come here like a thief every night and what do you bring in the bundle you carry?" "O King!" replied the subject, "Thou hast blessed me with every gift and kindness, far more indeed than I can ever deserve. By thee I have been raised from poverty and lowliness to greatness and honor. Knowing this and fearing I may grow negligent and fail to appreciate thy bounty and love, I come here each night to pray God that I shall ever remain grateful to thee for thy goodness; bringing with me my old peasant clothes,
which I put on and then sleep in the humble bed in which I slept when thy love and mercy first lifted me up from my lowly state. Thus am I taught gratitude and appreciation of thy loving kindness."
(From Ten Days in the Light of Acca, page 109.)
A MIRACLE OF BAHA'O'LLAH IN BAGDAD.
There was a man in Bagdad who was the chief of a thousand warriors. These men were not in the regular army, but the Government gave the chief $2,000 a month to divide amongst them with the stipulation that whenever war broke out, this chief with his one thousand strong warriors would join the army. But instead of paying two dollars to his men monthly, he would give them each one dollar and pocket the balance. He abused his soldiers continually. He had also ten colored men in his personal service, but treated them shamefully. He would say: "As the colored people are more faithful, therefore I employ them." One day this man with his evil reputation came to see BAHA'O'LLAH, and afterward came frequently. He gave ear to all his advices and exhortations. Little by little the magical change was wrought; and one day he called together his thousand men and told them that for several years past he had been depriving them every month of half their pay, but that now he had realized his mistake and sought their pardon. From now on they were to receive their full pay of two dollars a month. His men were wild with joy and from that moment they nicknamed him, "The-darling-of-our-heart." Then he went to his home and called together his ten negro servants and told them he was extremely sorry for his treatment of them, that he now knew better; that he would try to amend the past by being kind to them and would treat them as if they were his real sons. Often I called upon him and enjoyed the intimate relation which existed between this man and his "negro sons." They adored him. Then, before his death, he incorporated a clause in his will that his "negro sons" should be free, and bequeathed to them a quarter of all his possessions.
By relating to you this story I want to impress upon your minds what miracles the love of BAHA'O'LLAH can accomplish. This man was not a Bahai—he did not believe in BAHA'O'LLAH—he simply loved him. We who believe in him must most naturally do a hundred times more than this simple man. We must be ever ready to sacrifice our lives through the power of faith.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab to H. M., June, 1913.)
USELESS MEDITATION.
Once there was a man who had a negro servant. His name was Kafour. Having decided to make a journey, he bought a horse, and took Kafour with him. After traveling all day, they reached a small ruined caravanserai, and realizing how tired they were they resolved to pass the night here, and refresh with sleep their weary bodies and continue their journey the next morning. As that locality was lately infested with robbers, they decided that the master should sleep until midnight, while Kafour kept guard over the horse. Then he (Kafour) would sleep in turn and the master would sit awake. After their supper the master slept, but after an hour he awoke and asked: "Kafour, what are you doing?" He (Kafour) answered: "I am meditating!" "On what are you meditating?" "I am meditating on the subject of—Why God has fashioned the edges of these thistles so sharp and cutting." "Very good!" the master chuckled to himself as he drew his head under the blanket, "continue to meditate. That is a good subject."
Again he awoke half an hour before midnight and asked Kafour pleasantly: "On what are you meditating now?" "O Master! I am meditating as to who is going to carry on his back tomorrow morning the saddle and the bridle."
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Oct. 23, 1913.
SELFISH PRAYER.
It is said that once a Mohammedan, a Christian and a Jew were rowing in a boat. Suddenly a tempest arose and the boat was tossed on the crest of the waves and their lives were in danger. The Mohammedan began to pray: "O God! Drown this infidel of a Christian!" The Christian supplicated the Almighty: "O Father! Send to the bottom of the deep this Moslem! They observed the Jew was not offering any prayer, and therefore asked him: "Why do you not pray for relief?" He answered, "I am praying. I am asking the Lord to answer the prayers of both of you!"
(Told by Abdul-Baha. From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Oct. 20, 1914.)
HOW THE FARMER SAVED HIS COTTON.
Once upon a time, there was a poor fellah (farmer) who cultivated a patch of ground with cotton. His neighboring farmers were all rich landlords and Pashas, and so they prevented in a highhanded manner this poor farmer from receiving his just share of water wherewith to irrigate his parched farm. He appealed several times to their sense of justice, but they laughed him out of their presence. Finally, realizing that his cotton would dry and his labors fail of result, he went one midnight and changed the current of the stream toward his own farm, and irrigated it most thoroughly. When in the morning the landlords saw what their neighbor had done so daringly, they sent for him and rebuked him severely. Not being satisfied with this, they bastinadoed him very hard. While he was undergoing this cruel punishment, he cried out: "O ye men! I have already irrigated my farm. This will do you no good. I have saved the crop from destruction by the drought! Why do you inflict upon me such a useless torture? The earth is watered!"
Lesson: In a similar manner we have done our work; the censure and criticism of all mankind will not undo it.
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Oct. 29, 1913.)
THE THEOLOGIAN AT SEA.
Once there was a theologian who took a sea trip. While he was walking on the deck and watching the calm sea, the captain passed by and inquired about his health. Our friend was so full of his theology that he asked the captain: "Do you know theology?" He answered: "No." "Then," our student declared with much pompous dignity, "half of your life is lost." The captain did not answer him, but continued his walk. Another day the sea became very stormy and the ship was in danger of being wrecked. The captain called on the theologian and found him prostrated with sickness. "Do you know how to swim?" he asked. "No." "Then, all your life is lost!" the captain roared at him.
(Told by Abdul-Baha. From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Sept. 2, 1913.)
THE CAMEL AND THE CANNON.
Mohammed Ali Pasha had a big, fat camel. When the Hajis started on their long pilgrimage to Mecca through the desert, he ordered a rapid-fire gun to be mounted on the back of the camel and fired each time that they halted. The ear of the camel was so accustomed to the thundering noise of the cannon that although it was fired on its back, it never
moved. Because this camel performed such an important service and carried such a heavy load, the Pasha had ordered that it could graze through anybody's farm without any hindrance. Having reached a station, the camel entered the farm of a poor farmer. In his absence he had left a young boy to drive away the animals. On seeing the camel the boy started to scare it away by firing in the air with a small revolver. "What are you doing, my boy?" a Haji asked. "I want to scare away this camel." "O, don't trouble yourself. On the back of this camel a cannon is fired twice daily, and it does not move. Do not expect to scare him away with the sound of a small revolver."
Lesson: Refutations written by the missionaries are exactly the same.
(Words of Abdul-Baha. From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Aug. 10, 1914.)
THE DEAD DOG.
The disciples of Jesus passing along the road and seeing a dead dog, remarked how offensive and disgusting a spectacle it was. The Christ turning to them said, "Yes, but see how white and beautiful are its teeth!" Thus teaching that there is some good in everything.
(From Ten Days in the Light of Acca, page 109.)
THE CLAY BIRD.
In the Koran are many things referring to Christ not mentioned in the Gospel. For instance: It is said that Christ took a bit of clay and shaped it into the form of a bird. Then he blew upon it, and it flew away.
The interpretation of this is that the bird symbolizes an earthly man, who received spiritual education through the Christ. The story says: "He blew upon it, and it flew away." This means that the man received the breath of Life Eternal, and through this enlightenment, soared into the Heaven of Knowledge.
(From My visit to Acca, M. A. L.)
THE NEED OF ONE LANGUAGE.
At the city gate four travelers sat, a Persian, a Turk, an Arab and a Greek. They were hungry and wanted their evening meal. So one was selected to buy for them all. But among them they could not agree as to what should be bought. The Persian said angoor, the Turk uzum, the Arab wanted aneb and the Greek clamored for staphylion green and black. They quarrelled and wrangled and almost came to blows in trying to prove that the particular desire of each was the right food. When all of a sudden there passed a donkey ladened with grapes. Each man sprang to his feet and with eager hands pointed out: "See uzum!" said the Turk. "See aneb!" said the Arab. "See angoor!" said the Persian. And the Greek said, "See staphylion!" Then they bought their grapes and were at peace.
(From Ten Days in the Light of Acca.)
THE ARAB AND THE KING.
It is said that at one time a king went out traveling incognito. He put on an humble suit of clothes and started on his way in a scorching desert and finally reached the door of an Arab tent. The Arab finding the man exhausted from heat and hunger dragged him under the shade. When the king was revived he asked the Arab what he had to eat and drink. "I have a goat skin of wine and a little goat," the Arab answered. "Very well, bring the wine and kill the goat to be cooked," he said. The wine was brought. When the king drank one cup of wine he looked at the Arab and said: "Do you know who I am?" "No." "Then you must know that I am a soldier
in the king's army." The Arab was glad to entertain a brave man. The king drank another cup of wine. "Do you know who I am?" "Who are you?" "I am a minister in the king's council chamber." "I am delighted to receive such a distinguished statesman." A third cup was taken. "Do you know who I am?" "Well!" "I am the king himself." The Arab could not stand it any longer. He arose and took the goat-skin of wine from him. "Why do you do this?" the guest asked astonished. "Because I believe if you drank another cup you would be the Prophet of God, and a fifth cup would raise you to the station of God, so it is better for you to stop."
(Words of Abdul-Baha. Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Aug. 5, 1913.)
STORY OF JESUS AND THE POOR MAN WHO WANTED TO MARRY A PRINCESS.
It is said that Jesus entered a village. In those days many houses were broken into and everything carried away by the robbers; hence the authorities had issued an order that none of the inhabitants should entertain strangers in their homes, fearing that they might be in alliance with the robbers outside. Jesus stopped before the house of a very poor old woman, and knocked at the door. The old woman opened the door, and saw that Jesus was seeking a shelter. Looking into the face of Jesus, and beholding his gentleness, humility and spirituality, she did not have the heart to refuse him and send him away. Therefore with the utmost respect she invited him to enter the house. From his speech and conduct, the old woman intuitively felt that she was entertaining more than an ordinary mortal. She came forward and kissing his hand said: "Save my son, I have no one else in this world. Up to a short time ago he has been sober, intelligent and industrious, and his income is our sole support. But now he has become moody, morose and irritable. Where as formerly ours was a home of joy and happiness, now it is changed into a home of mourning and sadness. He works all day, but when he comes home he does not speak, and moves restlessly all night in his bed. To all my pleading questions, he turns away his face and does not answer."
Jesus said: "Send him to me. I will speak with him!" After sunset, the son returned to the house. His mother went to him and said, "We have a guest tonight who is noble and spiritual. If you have any trouble go and tell it to him. I feel sure he can help you." At first he did not want to go, but the solicitous mother persuaded him to do so. At last he consented. Entering the room, he found Jesus sitting on the floor. Immediately Jesus was on his feet, welcoming the wayward son. After a few moments of intimate talk, Jesus asked the boy: "Well, my son, tell me, what troubles you? What is the cause of your worry?" He replied: "Nothing." "You are not telling the truth. I know you are laboring under the weight of a great pain, my son. Tell me the cause of your trouble. I am interested in your welfare and my heart is full of sympathy for you. Rest assured that I will not divulge your secret to any human being. I will keep it to myself and will do my utmost to lighten the burden. Am I not your kind father and you my beloved son?" "My pain is irremediable!" the boy said, softening the tone of his answer somewhat under the loving gaze of Jesus. "I will find a remedy for it," Jesus answered. "Oh! I know so well that no one is able to take away this load from my heart." "I am able!" "But you are powerless. You are a poor man like us. You have no remedy for my malady." "I am powerful, and I am a physician for all manner of diseases!" "This is impossible. There is no man living who can claim so much," he said, yet impressed
by the gentle authoritative tone of Jesus. "Come! Come! Tell me the secret of your heart!" "But I feel ashamed to confess it to you." "Did I not tell you that you are my son? And why should there be anything but perfect trust between the son and the father?" "But I feel it is not proper to speak about these things. Beside, I cannot find words to adequately express my inmost feelings and then I am afraid I shall be misunderstood." "No! No! You are my real son! I will surely understand you. Be not afraid. Be frank!" After a moment of silence he said: "In the neighborhood of this village there is the summer palace of the king; Once I saw his daughter walking in the meadows. I loved her at first sight. She is the daughter of a mighty king, and I am a poor, miserable thorn-picker. I cannot say more!" And he began to weep. His Holiness consoled him and said: "Rest assured, God willing, your hope will be realized."
In brief, after awhile Jesus so arranged everything that the king consented to give his daughter to the poor thorn-picker. For days the royal preparations went on, and the date for the marriage was fixed. All the time the boy was very happy: he thought he was in a fairy dreamland; he could not believe that this was all real. When he entered the marriage room, and saw all around the exquisite decorations and furnishings, and then looked into the face of the beautiful bride—suddenly a thought sprang up in his mind: "This man (Jesus) has been the instrument of giving to me this undreamed of felicity, this wonderful bride for whom I was pining in my solitude in the wilderness; he has made it possible for me to enjoy all this luxury and comfort. If he were so powerful to prepare all these things for me, a poor peasant boy, why should he not have done the same for himself? If he could spread such a banquet of rejoicing for me, he could do it for himself a hundred times better. Notwithstanding this ideal power, he is still walking in the wilderness, eating the grass, sleeping on the ground, sitting in the darkness and living altogether a life of poverty." No sooner had this thought come to his mind than he turned his face to his bride, and said: "Stay where you are; I have important business to attend to. I shall return as soon as I have finished my work." This said, he ran out of the room and hastened toward the wilderness.
After much search, he found Jesus sitting on a rock. Impetuously he prostrated on the ground, and kissed his feet and hands. "O my Lord! Thou wert not just towards me. Thou hast not treated me fairly." "How is that? Why so? Have I not realized for thee the highest desire of your heart?" "Yes, yes! But you have desired for me that which you would not desire for yourself. Surely, surely, you must possess something by far greater and more important than that which you bestowed upon me. If these things were acceptable and worthy of possession, you would have chosen them for yourself. Therefore, it is self-evident that you have something more valuable and precious than all these things. Oh! I feel so sad and ashamed, because you have granted me those things which are not worthy of your own consideration!"
His Holiness smiled and said: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou art telling the truth. But hast thou the capability and worthiness to possess that pearl of Great Price?" "O my Lord and my hope! I will strive and pray to become worthy!" "Art thou able to leave all these things behind?" "Yes." "Then verily I declare unto thee, I possess the mysteries of the Kingdom, which are the Knowledge of God, the Love of God and the Guidance of God. These are greater than all worldly possessions. Now if thou art willing to possess the
jewels of the Kingdom, follow me." He followed Christ till they joined the apostles. Then addressing his disciples, he introduced to them his new follower: "I have had a treasure which was hidden in this village. I have just now unearthed it. Here is my treasure."
(Told by Abdul-Baha. From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 3, 1914.)
JUSTICE.
A certain ruler wished to appoint one of his subjects to a high office, so in order to train him, the ruler cast him into prison and caused him to suffer much. The man was surprised at this for he expected great favors. The ruler had him taken from prison and beaten with sticks. This greatly astonished the man for he thought the ruler loved him. After this he was hanged on the gallows until he was nearly dead. After he recovered he asked the ruler: "If you love me, why did you do all this?" The ruler replied: "I wish to make you Prime Minister. By having gone through these ordeals you are better fitted for that office. I wish you to know how it is yourself. When you are obliged to punish, you will know how it feels to endure these things. I love you so that I wish you to become perfect."
God sometimes causes us to suffer much and to have many misfortunes that we may become strong in His Cause.
(Words of Abdul-Baha, Oct. 10, 1912.)
Story told by Mirza Abul Fazl—An incident in his prison life
LONGING FOR MARTYRDOM.
When he was imprisoned in Teheran with eleven others, there was an old man among them by the name of Mirza Mohammed Reza. He was well known for three rare qualities, firmness, fearlessness and truthfulness. He defied all the prison authorities by his courage; awed all the enemies by his firmness and set at naught the intrigues of all the foes through his truthfulness. "Whenever," Mirza Abul Fazl said, "one of the ministers of the court, Hajeb-Ed-Dowleh, came to the prison to investigate the conditions of some one, Mirza Mohammad Reza would run to him and keep on talking into his ears for a few minutes with great earnestness. Finally Hajeb-Ed-Dowleh would turn to him and with a despairing look say: "Sir, this is impossible. I cannot do it. Why did you not ask the Prince Nayeb-Os-Sultaneh about it? He can do it. He is the one in authority." At last one day we asked him, "What is this you are constantly asking the Hajeb-Ed-Dowleh whenever he comes to the prison, and which he so emphatically refuses you?" He said: "I ask and plead with him to sentence me to death. I tell him I am an old man; I am of no good to the world. I want to bathe my body in blood for the sake of BAHA'O'LLAH. Please! Please! I beg of you to do something for me. Is this too much of a favor that I ask of you? Are you not kind enough to fulfill this last wish of an old man? Praise be to God, that you are an influential man—but he does not listen to me, and answers me loudly the way you have all heard." At another time the chief of the jailers passed by him and scornfully pointed out his long hair. "Why do you keep your hair so long? What for?" he asked, and laughed. Mirza Mohammed Reza asked him: "What is that insignia on thy breast?" "It is the sign of my office," he answered, with great flourish. "So is this"—he pointed to his hair—"the sign of a Bahai!"
(From Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Aug. 4, 1913.)
Treasurer's Report-Bahai Temple Unity
February 1, 1919.
| Receipts | W.S. Stamps | Liberty Bonds | Cash | Interest | Exchange |
| April 1918 | $1,006.98 | $20.79 | $ .28 | ||
| May | 512.63 | 19.26 | 1.20 | ||
| June | 100.00 | 2,125.57 | 5.98 | .15 | |
| July | 457.42 | 7.17 | .39 | ||
| August | 263.18 | 8.05 | .25 | ||
| September | 1,100.00 | 1,596.53 | 9.57 | .35 | |
| October | $25.00 | 21,700.00 | 422.39 | 11.09 | .85 |
| November | 200.00 | 1,964.83 | 12.16 | 1.31 | |
| December | 84.60 | 1,120.00 | 2,841.38 | 15.38 | 2.06 |
| January 1919 | 1,300.00 | 5,256.45 | 19.21 | 13.32 | |
| Total Receipts | $109.60 | $25,600.00 | $16,447.36 | $128.57 | $20.52 |
| Add lnterest | 128.57 | ||||
| Add Interest Certificate of Deposit | 16.55 | ||||
| Total | $16,592.48 | ||||
| Less Exchange | 20.52 | ||||
| Net Cash Receipts | $16,571.96 | ||||
| April 1st Balance | 101,084.72 | ||||
| Total Cash | $117,656.68 | ||||
| Payments as per Vouchers | |||||
| Expenses | $2,811.97 | ||||
| Taxes | 813.64 | 3,625.61 | |||
| Total | $114,031.07 | ||||
| Less Error Deposit of 11/15/17 | .25 | ||||
| Balance February 1, 1919 | $114,030.82 | ||||
| Liberty Bonds | 25,600.00 | ||||
| War Savings Stamps | 109.60 | ||||
| Total Funds | $139,740.42 | ||||
| Proof | |||||
| Certificates of Deposit: | |||||
| Dated May 24, 1918 | 35,666.05 | ||||
| Dated June 15, 1918 | 61,998.22 | ||||
| Dated Feb. 3, 1920 | 10,000.00 | ||||
| Banks Balance February 1, 1919 | 6,366.55 | ||||
| Total Cash | $114,030.82 |
It would be well to mention, perhaps, that all the funds, including certificates of deposit, stand in the name of Bahai Temple Unity and that the Temple Unity has a safety deposit box in Chicago in its own name where the securities are kept so that it is accessible to only the Treasurer, Secretary and Financial Secretary of the Corporation and likewise all checks are signed by these three officers.
Your brother in His service,
William H. Randall,
Treasurer.
A LETTER FROM MANDALAY.
Mandalay, December 3, 1918.
To William H. Randall, Esq., Boston, U. S. A.
Dear Bahai brother:
We are extremely thankful to you for your esteemed favour of the 5th of September, 1918, received only last week, contents of which delighted the hearts and uplifted the spirits. It was read and explained in our spiritual congregation held on the celebration of the Holy Fete day of our Beloved Master Abdul-Baha on the 26th of November, 1918, also passed over to other assemblies in Burma.
Oh dear brother! You know well how we must have felt through its effects, our hearts were filled with the thrills of joy and happiness as its contents were evidently proving the pure love of God, His Unity and Oneness. No matter how far we live there is no distance in the spiritual realm. We can easily communicate with each other in our spiritual Kingdom without the obstruction of all things in the world; as the hearts are clear and pure like a mirror we could freely behold the brilliant faces of our dear brothers and sisters in America.
We earnestly pray for physical fulfillment of the same after the expected World-Peace, which will prove materially also the unity and oneness of the East and West.
We thank you again for your kind acknowledgement of the receipt of the draft for $273.36, and further we note that Mrs. Corinne True will be pleased to send us the actual receipt for the said amount, for which we express our thanks in anticipation.
As the above sum of remittance was contributed from the various sources and different assemblies, we beg to move the Exalted Board that its Honorable members will kindly record the following account for the future references.
Contributions from the following Bahai Assemblies:
| Mandalay (Burma) | 374 rupees |
| Chittagong (Bengal) | 49 "" |
| Rangoon (Burma) | 137 "" |
| Kungyangon (Burma) | 200 "" |
| Total | 760 " |
In conveying you and to all our beloved friends in America our best Bahai loving-greetings, we express our deepest affection from all friends in Burma to the dear friends in America, and praying earnestly with you at the Holy Threshold, that the Divine Will may speedily become realized and that composure and happiness may penetrate the affairs of the nations.
Although your kind note was addressed to our beloved brother and teacher, Mr. Syed Mustafa, we sought this privilege to communicate to you through him, as the object is one and the spirit of love, unity and oneness is the same. We hope that you will always write to us, for which we thank you and all beloved friends in anticipation.
We are your humble brothers and sisters in the Holy Covenant,
Syed Mustafa
for the Bahai Assembly, Mandalay.
