The Destiny of America/Text

“ae AMERICA

1970

BAHA'I PUBLISHING TRUST Wilmette, Illinois [Page 3]

OF

Ix not pin my dreams for the future to my country or even to my race. I think it probable that civilization somehow will last as long as I care to look ahead —perhaps with smaller number, but perhaps also bred to greatness and splendor by science. I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it has never seen but is to be—that man may have cosmic destinies that he does not understand. And so beyond the vision of battling races and an impoverished earth I catch a dreaming glimpse of peace.

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Collected Legal Papers

[Page 4]AITING for ages was the New

World—waiting to be discovered by the Old World and to be colonized from its teeming peoples. Here to this new land of liberty and of dazzling opportunities fled those who sought religious freedom. Others came to escape from the economic bondage of perennial hereditary servitude, and to seek a new dignity of manhood.

America’s boundless coasts and forests and prairies welcomed these millions and gave them homesteads and fortune equal to their abilities and energy. Hereditary rank was left behind. Not for this New World the deadening lethargy of caste, the limitations of rank, the threats to liberty of thought and conscience!

Here in America was such a range of liberties as the world had never seen before. Too much liberty? This wine of freedom was heady. Yes, too strong at times! But it produced a race that knew the freedom of wide spaces; and in that freedom attained an individual dignity and self-respect such as the world had never known before.

It took time for this new race to learn how to handle liberty, how to restrain liberty within necessary bounds, how to subordinate individualism to the needs of the state and of society.

Almost on the brink of chaos tottered the thirteen separate and independent

[Page 5]colonies, after freeing themselves from England. Almost it seemed that destiny intervened to forge the loose and inept confederacy into a united nation. But the task was finally achieved! And the thirteen colonies—obeying a constitution of which history had never before seen the equal—grew into a strong and mighty nation.

With such a fortunate past as this— so favored by destiny—is it any wonder that America remained a haven of refuge for the poor and oppressed of many lands? And each newly welcomed tide of immigrants, rather’ than impoverishing her, made still richer this land of opportunity—A merica.

Thus, from the force of circumstance (or from Divine guidance, as many believe), America developed a people who were free and democratic on life’s every level; who were more prosperous than any people hitherto; and who from the influence of this very prosperity, freedom and mixture of races, attained a unique degree of idealism and of practical altruism.

So America may appear indeed to have been a land of destiny. Was it mere chance that kept this New World unknown and sparsely inhabited throughout millenniums of Old World history? It was an emptiness awaiting this most fateful moment. It was a stage readied

[Page 6]for the world’s new and untried drama of liberty and democracy.

The torch of liberty which lights the harbor of New York—first vision of the New World to meet the eyes of immigrants or visitors—is this not a true symbol of the spirit of America, which seeks to illumine and inspire the whole world with a new spirit of freedom, of initiative, of economic opportunity and progress?

2

MERICA was the first to weld

into one nation—effectively federated and unionized—a group of independent political entities such as the thirteen colonies constituted at the end of the Revolutionary War. It was upon this foundation of systematized federation—unique in the world’s history— that America’s vast edifice of prosperity was to be erected. Had the colonies kept each its separate government, military force and tariff boundaries, the America that we know today would never have evolved.

It was because of this political, linguistic and democratic unity of her people that America was able to exploit a continent vast in expanse and rich in natural resources. And this pattern of federation which has proved so successful serves now as a demonstration to the rest of the world that in unity there is not only greater strength but also greater

[Page 7]individual opportunity and greater prosperity.

It was but natural, with such antecedents, that an American statesman was the first to conceive and establish a form of world federation. Weak and ineffective as the League of Nations proved to be, it nevertheless marks the world’s initiation into a formulated unity.

Again, it was American statesmen who were chiefly responsible for the more maturely formulated and more effective United Nations—the entrance of which into power-politics marks a new era in world affairs.

3

T IS not surprising that a nation

such as this—conceived in liberty and dedicated to human welfare—should have been the first of Occidental peoples to receive and nourish, at the beginning of this century, the fertile seeds of a great world faith emanating from a far land of mystically spiritual people, the first to open their ears to the revealed words of the great spiritual world leader —Baha’u’llah. And as an expression of this faith, there has arisen on the shores of Lake Michigan a Temple of peace and brotherhood—so perfect and unique in its architectural splendor as to become a major point of attraction in the whole Chicago area for thousands of travellers each year from the forty-eight states as well as from every part of the globe.

[Page 8]It was but natural also that this country should receive a long official visit from ‘Abdu’l-Baha—son of the Founder of the Baha’i World Faith and its designated expounder.

After an imprisonment in ‘Akka, Palestine, lasting forty years, the leader of the Baha’i World Faith was freed by the young Turks in the Revolution of 1908. In 1912 He came to this country and devoted a year to lecturing and expounding the principles of the Baha’i World Faith. From pulpits, educational institutions and public platforms throughout the country this saintly and majestic figure—messenger to America of peace and world brotherhood —won and inspired the hearts of His audiences.

Basically essential to the progress of the world seemed these principles which ‘Abdu’l-Baha proclaimed :—The unity of all religions; the oneness of the human race; the independent investigation of truth; the freedom from prejudice of all kinds—national, political, racial and religious; the equality of men and women; universal auxiliary language; solution of the labor and economic problems in ways that would be both spiritual and practical; world federation; a universal tribunal for the obligatory settlement of international problems; and finally, world peace and world civilization.

Who could oppose such doctrines?

[Page 9]‘Abdu’l-Baha had but few hecklers. He was cordially introduced to His audiences by prelates, university presidents, statesmen and men of affairs. No Oriental addressing American audiences for such a length of time has ever received such a cordial and unanimously favorable reception.

4

N THESE addresses ‘Abdu’l-Baha

spoke frequently of the glowing destiny of America, both past and future. “May this American Democracy be the first nation to establish the foundation of international agreement,” he said. “May it be the first nation to proclaim the universality of mankind. May it be the first to upraise the standard of the Most Great Peace.”

How soon this fervent prayer for America, uttered in 1912, was to be granted! In less than a decade Woodrow Wilson was to inaugurate the first such “foundation of international agreement.”

A truly global achievement, to establish, as Wilson conceived it, “a reign of law, based upon the consent of the governed and sustained by the organized opinion of mankind.” His was the prophetic belief that he had articulated the needs and conscience of humanity, and that America was destined to lead the way on the new highroad of peace and brotherhood.

[Page 10]With prophetic utterance again ‘Abdu’l Baha poured praise upon the American people, declaring: “The American people are indeed worthy of being the first to build the tabernacle of the Great Peace, and proclaim the oneness of mankind. For America hath developed powers and capacities greater and more powerful than any other nation.”

As ‘Abdu’l-Baha travelled from city to city in the United States He reiterated His ardent message of world peace and His faith in the capacity of the American people to lead the world in this great enterprise. In Washington, D. C., there was uttered this supreme and prayerful wish for America: “May this American democracy be the first nation to establish the foundation of international agreement. May it be the first nation to proclaim the universality of mankind. Truly this is a great and rev-> ered nation. Here liberty has reached its highest degree. The intentions of its people are most praiseworthy. They are indeed worthy of being the first people to build the tabernacle of the great peace and proclaim the oneness of the world of humanity. I will supplicate God for assistance and confirmation in your behalf.”

In the course of open discussion at the end of this lecture (which the writer had the privilege of attending) ‘Abdu’l-Baha was asked by an enthusiastic feminine

10 [Page 11]advocate of peace whether this country should not be the first to disarm. The speaker, with a practicality which equalled His idealism, replied that it was not safe for one country to disarm. The momentous step of national disarmament must be practiced simultaneously by all nations, and at the same time an international police force be established, He said.

The world is gradually coming to realize that the simultaneous disarmament of all nations is an inevitable step in the establishment of stable peace upon the planet. This pacific principle, laid down by Baha’u’llah almost a century ago, is absolutely essential to world unity and to an effective world federation. The nations of the world today can no more go on bristling to the teeth with armaments than the feudal lords could continue to be robber barons or the thirteen colonies of this country each maintain its own army and navy.

Nationalism is a necessary step in the evolution of greater unities upon the planet. But nationalism must be sublimated into internationalism, and planetary unity must replace the discordance of nationalism. To a high official in the service of the government of the United States who questioned Him as to the best manner in which he could promote the interests of his government and people, ‘Abdu’l-Baha answered: “You can best

11 [Page 12]serve your country if you strive, in your capacity as a citizen of the world, to assist in the eventual application of the principle of federalism underlying the government of your own country to the relationships now existing between the peoples and nations of the world.”

Again speaking in Washington, D. C., the venerable Oriental praised America as a land where “the standard of liberty is held aloft”—a land which enjoys the blessings of political liberty, of liberty of thought and speech, religious liberty, and racial and personal liberty.

“Tt is my fond and fervent hope through the favor of God that this present meeting may be instrumental in ushering in the day when the standard of the oneness of the world of humanity shall be held aloft in America. ... May you consider all religions the instruments of God and regard all races as channels of divine manifestation. May you view mankind as the sheep of God and know for a certainty that He is the real shepherd.”

5

ET us not conclude from these

statements that ‘Abdu’l-Baha assumed America had the world’s ideal civilization. He praised the spirit of freedom here, the humanitarianism, the progressive energy of the people in establishing such an amazing material

12 [Page 13]prosperity. All these things are good, He said in effect, but they are not the last word—nor the first word. This material energy and achievement of the American people must be matched with an equal spiritual energy and progress.

In fact the world’s Prophet of Peace took pains to point out that the edifice of world peace must be laid on spiritual foundations in order to be stable and permanent. World peace is in itself not a potency but a result, He pointed out. Peace is a cessation of warfare. But something more positive and vital than peace is needed, in order to assure peace. What is more fundamental than the voiding of war is “the consciousness of the oneness of mankind”—the spiritual awakening of humanity to its essential unity under God; and the growth of a spiritual love which would serve as a catalysis in the alembic of peace, a divine alchemy turning all minor elements of life into the pure gold of brotherhood and unity.

In Chicago ‘Abdu’l-Baha uttered this noble and inspiring prayer: “O thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same original parents. Thou hast intended that all belong to the same household. ...O thou kind Lord! Unite all, let the religions agree, make the nations one so that they may be as one kind and children of the same fatherland. May they associate in unity and concord. O

13 [Page 14]God! Upraise the standard of the oneness of humankind. Cement the hearts together.”

In New York—citadel of America’s materialistic culture—this mystic who walked with practical feet urged the attainment of higher spiritual degrees. “While it is true that its people have attained a marvelous material civilization, I hope that spiritual forces may animate this great body and a corresponding spiritual civilization be established. ... May the love of God be spread from this city, from this meeting, to all the surrounding countries. Nay, may America become the distributing center of spiritual enlightenment and all the world receive this heavenly blessing.”

6

HE whole world is watching Amer ica and seeking to evaluate her. The world is prone to emulate our material progress; but it is averse to being drawn into the maelstrom of dynamic materialism which characterizes our industry and commerce. Far too hectic is the daily life of the teeming millions who create and share in our colossal national wealth.

The American pattern as at present constituted is far from being a satisfactory model for the rest of the world. The Oriental peoples are not willing to exchange their simple habits of living, their modest satisfactions and joys, their

14 [Page 15]love of nature and their habits of meditation for the feverish pace required by American industrialism.

The ideal pattern for the world is a balance between America’s technological and industrial energy, and the spiritual calm resulting too often in lethargy which has for millenniums characterized the Orient.

This, in effect, is the challenge which this Persian seer—charged with Divine love and illumined by the Spirit—presented to American audiences. Throughout the country He urged His hearers to strive to spiritualize their lives, and to become more conscious of the divine aspects of existence, and to develop and express a profound sympathy with the Orient, so that ultimately the Orient and Occident could embrace as brothers.

To a large audience at the “Church of the Ascension” in New York ‘Abdu’lBaha discoursed eloquently on the need of the Western world acquiring from the Orient the elements of spiritual civilization:

“In the western world,” He said, “material civilization has attained the highest point of development but divine civilization was founded in the land of the east. The east must acquire material civilization from the west and the west must receive spiritual civilization from the east. This will establish a mutual bond. When these two come to

15 [Page 16]gether, the world of humanity will present a glorious aspect and extraordinary progress will be achieved. This is clear and evident; no proof is needed. The degree of material civilization in the Occident cannot be denied; nor can any one fail to confirm the spiritual civilization of the Orient for all the divine foundations of human uplift have appeared in the east. This likewise is clear and evident. Therefore you must assist the east in order that it may attain material progress. The east must likewise promulgate the principles of spiritual civilization in the western world. By this commingling and union, the human race will attain the highest degree of prosperity and development. Material civilization alone is not sufficient and will not prove productive. ... We pray that God will unite the east and the west in order that these two civilizations may be exchanged and mutually enjoyed. I am sure it will come to pass for this is the radiant century. This is an age for the outpouring of divine mercy upon the exigency of this new century—the unity of the east and the west. It will surely be accomplished.”

7 N THE one hand America is materialistic; but on the other hand, America is deeply religious, more vitally so, perhaps, than any other country. It was deeply religious in its foundations,

16 [Page 17]especially in New England. And this religious earnestness of the population has by and large persisted.

Religion in this country has had a more active aspect than in any other Protestant country. For here the Church has been divorced from the state, and has relied upon individual and group enterprises and activity for its very livelihood. Lord Bryce, in his “History of Democracy,” comments on this unique feature of church organization in America and its beneficial influence as a factor in the democratic life and institutions of this country.

Other important facts, also, demonstrate the religious earnestness of America. For here have arisen during the Nineteenth Century new cults and even new religions. Here Theosophy found its birth, and also Spiritualism. Here unitarianism and universalism found, if not their birth, at least their most creative flowering. Here Mary Baker G. Eddy founded a movement which has flourished under the name of Christian Science almost as a separate religion. And here an actually new religion of the Latter Day Saints—known popularly as Mormonism—found its birth and reached a potency which now expresses itself in world-wide missionary zeal.

This country witnessed too, the birth of the Foreign Missions of the Protestant Church. More than any country in

17 [Page 18]the world has America contributed of money, zeal and services to the great field of Christian missions in Asia and Africa.

This creative spiritual activity in America—this spirit of religious earnestness, this groping for spiritual enlightenment and search for more universal concepts suggests that spiritual forces—not as yet consciously realized —had been released to prepare this country for its divine mission.

It was but natural, therefore, that ‘Abdu’l-Baha should select this country to bear aloft the missionary standard of the Baha’i World Faith and to carry it into every country and among every people of the world.

After the close of World War I, and as soon as communications could be established with this country, a special messenger was dispatched to announce in the first of a series of messages to the Baha’is of Canada and the United States an inspiring summons to organize a teaching mission of such scope as to embrace eventually the whole world.

“When this divine call,” ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “travels from the continent of America to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Islands of the Pacific, the American believers shall be established on the throne of everlasting Glory, the fame of their illumination and guidance shall reach to all regions and the renown of their greatness become world-wide.”

18 [Page 19]In this series of messages, referred to by the Baha’is as “The Tablets of the Divine Plan,” ‘Abdu’l-Baha omitted no country of the world, nor even any major island from this charted teaching plan of the Baha’i World Faith. Even such tiny countries as Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Monaco, He said, must be ultimately reached by an earnest pioneer — who must be declared “pure of heart, his spirit attracted, his thought of peace, his resolution firm, his magnanimity exalted, and in the love of God a shining torch.”

This colossal world-wide plan is now being successfully carried out under the inspired and inspiring directives of Shoghi Effendi, late Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. Not only from this country—but also from Great Britain, Iran, India and Egypt — devoted “pioneers” are going forth to every quarter of the globe — from east to west, from farthest north to the uttermost south, including the world’s archipelagos and major islands.

The goal of attainment of this Baha’i World Faith is the establishment upon this planet of the Kingdom of God—that is, of a world civilization which should be permanently free from war, and which by its stability and anchorage in righteousness shall continue to advance mankind to ever greater degrees of prosperity and happiness.

19 [Page 20]‘Abdu’l-Baha points out in one of His Messages to America previously described how transient and unstable are the secular organizations, whereas the spiritually motivated and directed organizations of the world outlast the centuries. Human organizations are ephemeral, He states, when connected merely to focal centers of patriotism, nationalism, identity of interests, political alliances and even union of ideals. For “with the appearance of great revolutions and upheavels, all these collective centers are swept away. But the Collective Center of the Kingdom, embodying the Institutes and Divine Teachings, is the eternal Collective Center. It establishes relationship between the East and the West, organizes the oneness of the world of humanity, and destroys the foundation of differences. It overcomes and includes all the other collective centers. Like unto the ray of the sun, it dispels entirely the darkness encompassing all the regions, bestows ideal life, and causes the effulgence of divine illumination. Through the breaths of the Holy Spirit, it performs miracles; the Orient and the Occident embrace each other, the North and South become intimates and associates, conflicting and contending opinions disappear, antagonistic aims are brushed aside, the law of the struggle for existence is abrogated, and the canopy of the oneness of the world of humanity

20 [Page 21]is raised on the apex of the globe, casting its shade over all the races of men. Consequently, the real Collective Center is the body of the divine teachings, which includes all the degrees and embrace all the universal relations and necessary laws of humanity.”

9

HE ultimate aim of all this pioneer ing of the Baha’i World Faith is, of course, to establish this “oneness of humanity,” this “Kingdom of God upon earth,” this “divine civilization” which holds a paradisiacal promise for mankind.

Before sucha planetary consummation can be achieved there lie ahead of us many crises, both national and international. But out of it all will emerge an America purified and spiritualized, Shoghi Effendi has stated.

“Many and diverse are the setbacks and reverses which this nation, extolled so highly by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, and occupying at present so unique a position among its fellow nations, must, alas suffer. The road leading to its destiny is long, thorny and tortuous. The impact of various forces upon the structure and polity of that nation will be tremendous. Tribulations, on a scale unprecedented in its history, and calculated to purge its institutions, to purify the hearts of its people, to fuse its constituent elements, and

21 [Page 22]to weld it into one entity with its sister nations in both hemispheres, are inevitable...

“Whatever the Hand of a beneficent and inscrutable Destiny has reserved for this youthful, this virile, this idealistic, this spiritually blessed and enviable nation, however severe the storms which may buffet it in the days to come in either hemisphere, however sweeping the changes which the impact of cataclysmic forces from without, and the stirrings of a Divine embryonic Order from within, will effect in its structures and life, we may, confident in the words uttered by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, feel assured that that great Republic will continue to evolve, undivided and undefeatable, until the sum total of its contributions to the birth, the rise and the fruition of that world civilization, the child of the Most Great Peace and hall-mark of the Golden Age of the Dispensation of Baha’u’llah will have been made, and its last task discharged.”

22 �