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‘WORLD

ORDER

SEPTEMBER. 1945

Building a United World — Margaret Kunz Ruhe

Costa Rica, The Beautiful — Gayle Woolson

World Undertakings, Editorial — Horace Holley

Progress Toward an International Language — Arthur Dahl

The World Without Nations, Book Review — Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick

Early Growth of the Bahá’í Faith — Mariam Haney

With Our Readers

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THE BAHA’I’ MAGAZINE

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World Order was founded March 21,1910 as Bahá’í News, the first organ of the American Bahá’ 15. 111 March, 1911, its title was changed to Star of the West Beginning November, 1922 the magazine appeared under the name of The Bahá’í Magazine The issue of April, 1935 carried the present title of W orld Order, combining The Bahá’í Maga ‘ zinc and W orld Unity, which had been founded October, 1927. The . present number represents Volume XXXVI of the continuous Bahá’í

publication.

WORLD ORDER is published monthly in Wilmette, 111., by the Publishing Com‘mi-ttee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. EDITORS: Garreta -Busey, Gertrude K. Henning, Hbrace Holley, Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick.

Editorial Office Mrs. Gertrude K. Henning; Secretary 69 ABBOTSFORD ROAD, WINNETKA, ILL.

Publication Office 110 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMEm, ILL.

_ C. R. Wood, Business Manager ' Printed in USA.

SEPTEMBER, 1945, VOLUME XI, NUMBER 6

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $1.50 per year, for United States, its territories and posses _ sions; for Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America. Single copies, 150.

Foreign subscriptions, $1.75. Make checks and money orders payable to World Order Magazine, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, 1111nois.Entered as second class matter April 1, 1940, at the post office at Wilmette, 111., under the Act of March 3,1879. Contents copyrighted 1945 by Bahá’í Publishing Committee. Title registered at U. S. Patent Office. ' CHANGE OF ADDRESS SHOULD BE REPORTED ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE '

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The Bahá’í Magazine

VOLUME XI

SEPTEMBER, 1945

NUMBER 6

Building a United World

MARGARET KUNZ RUHE

E ARE living today in an

era of tremendous change, of swiftly altering events, and we know and sense that out of all the chaos, confusion, and collapse of our present world some kind of a rebirth is taking shape. There is a stirring of new life deep in the currents of human affairs, and we are longing and praying, now that the war is over, that the days which lie ahead will bring a just peace.

What can we do about the future? What can we do now to build towards a lasting, enduring peace? Our ideas are muddled and foggy. We have perhaps a vague longing to be somehow effective in building a new and better world, but what to do? Where to look for guidance? Most people are bewildered, and consequently are taking the fatalistic attiude that what is going to be is going to be anyway, so Why do anything? There is great danger in this “take it easy” attitude. It has always been the American belief that things will

somehow turn out “0. K.” So we drift along trying to overlook the seriousness of the situation facing us, vainly hoping that the good old days will return.

In order to find out what we can do, let us examine our poor shattered world, which like the proverbial Humpty Dumpty, has fallen to pieces to the point where we wonder if it can ever be put together again. Our world appears to be afflicted with severe maladies and disorders of every kind.

First, we witness a world where political anarchy is the most striking feature. Nationalism and chauvinism have become so strong that each nation thinks only of itself. After World War I, treaties, charters, covenants, pacts, and contracts were enacted among the various nations, but they all proved inefiective in the end.

In the area of economic relations the same is true. Each country has considered only its own needs. Self-sufliciency is the

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goal, and high tarifl walls have been constructed around each country so that the natural flow of goods has been stifled. The result is international bankruptcy and war.

Another striking feature of our day is that we live in a time of tremendous scientific advancement. Materially, we have comforts, conveniences, pleasures, and luxuries which kings and queens of old dared not dream of. But as a result we have come to worship material things and we measure success entirely in terms of material and economic progress. As long as our standard of living was going up, as long as there were more radios, telephones, bathtubs, washing machines, movies, etc., we have felt somehow that humanity was in a state of progress. But economic progress is good only as long as it is a means to a higher social order. Furthermore, the means of science have been used to devise methods for killing and destruction.

We live in a day of great advances in learning and in research of all kinds—chemical, medical, biological, sociological, psychological, etc., etc. Never before have we had so many books, libraries, teachers, professors, colleges, schools, lecturers, academies, degrees, and college graduates. Knowledge and its

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dissemination have not been neglected, but rather advanced in brilliant and unparalled fashion, and yet our civilization has rotted and decayed, because we have educated only the mind and not the human heart. Today the education of the human heart is the crying need.

Morally and religiously our world has declined. Civilization has disintegrated from within because of the breakdown of moral standards and the loosening of the hold of religion on the peoples of the world. This is being recognized today by many leading thinkers and writers. It is striking as you study books on world affairs to find that many students of current events are waking up to the fact that the doom of our world is caused by the fact that we are living in a moral vacuum. Edward Hallet Carr in his recent book Conditions of Peace says: “The essential nature of the crisis through which we are living is neither political, military, economic, but moral. A new faith in a new moral purpose is required to reanimate our political and economic system.” Other writers have reached the same conclusion: that our civilization has approached bankruptcy because of the breakdown of the inner moral and religious strong holds.

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Finally, we find that in the area of social relationships there is disharmony and hatred because of deep—seated prejudices of every kind. In every country of the world people are hating each other, and killing each other because of prejudices of class, religion, color, education, nationality, creed, race, etc. In India the caste system is an oldtime tradition with a class of untou'chables. In the Near East we find Christians, Muhammedans and Jews at each others throats. Europe is torn up with a thousand prejudices of nationality, race, and religion. In our own country we find insults, injustices, humiliations, and discriminations heaped on Mexicans, Jews, Orientals, Negroes, and American Indians. What the world needs more than anything else is the abandonment of prejudices. How can this be done?

Prejudiees lie deep in our emotions, and therefore they can be wiped out only by a reconditioning of our emotional selves. The negative emotions of hatred, suspicion, fear, and distrust must be transformed into the positive emotions of cooperation, mutual trust, brotherhood, love, understanding, and fellowship. There is needed a universal recognition of the oneness of mankind, of brotherhood, and the underlying, basic unity of all peoples.

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Bahá’u’lláh, the greatest teacher of humanity of our day and the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, says: “The tabernacle of unity has been raised; the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. Regard ye not one another as strangers.—Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one sea. Let not a man glory in this that he loves his country. Let him rather glory in this that he loves his kind.” Bahá’u’lláh’s central teaching is that we are approaching the day of the unification of the entire human race. Now is the time when all prejudices must be wiped out and a consciousness of unity be born, or the human race faces certain extinction. All the different elements of society must be fused into one organic whole. The time has come for the blending and harmonizing of all peoples. This is the sine qua non of humanity’s survival. Without universal acceptance of the oneness of mankind, the human race is doomed. Physically and even intellectually we are achieving a degree of unity, but in the realm of the emotions we are Widely separated. Our emotional growth has not kept pace with our material and intellectual growth.

This emotional transformation can be brought about only through a spiritual rebirth.

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Men’s hearts and spirits must again be kindled by the fire of the love of God. We are living in an age of spiritual anemia. Herbert Agar points out that there exists a “spiritual thinness” in modern peoples. We are lost in a sea of materialism, and thus have allowed ourselves to become spiritually undernourished. And yet it remains true now as always that “man does not live by bread alone,” and so we sense that the basic need of our age is the rebirth of spiritual values and of Godconsciousness in the hearts and minds of men.

The concept of unity which Bahá’u’lláh has sounded as the key-note for this day pertains not only to relations between individuals, but to the relations between nations and peoples of all backgrounds. This is a message of unity which goes beyond the traditional brotherhood concept; its implications are deeper. It declares that today unity must be established between all groups, religions, cultures, classes, nations, and sects in the world. It envisions a world federation with an international code of law, a world communications system, a world metropolis, a world language, a world script, a world system of currency and weights and measures, a free press, a unified economic scheme

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—— unity but not uniformity. There will always be differences among the people, but at the same time there will evolve a unity of spirit and a willingness to he world-minded and to give up narrow national concepts for broader international concepts. Something will be added to the culture of each country. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, says: “The call today is for a wider loyalty, a larger aspiration than any that has animated the human race. There must be a subordination of national impulses and interests to the imperative claims of a unified world. The watchword is unity in diversity.”

What can we as individuals do to aid in building a new, a unified world?

F irst of all, we must rid ourselves Of the idea that we can take it easy because what is going to be is going to be. This is a fatalistic attitude for which there is no room today. Second, we must empty ourselves of all our prejudices. This is not easy. We all have prejudices. They are hidden deep within us and we may not even be aware of them. Constant self-scrutiny and re-examination are needed to keep ourselves free from these germs of prejudice which are highly contagious and to be caught from almost anyone all the time. The

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doors of our minds and souls must be flung wide open to allow old ideas to pass out and new ideas to enter.

High seriousness is required. This is not at all typical of us as a people. We tend to laugh our way out of all serious situations, and overlook or ignore the sore spots in our civilization and in our selves.

We must independently investigate truth for this day. Bahá’u’lláh has brought us a great message of hope and light, and it is our first obligation to study and meditate upon his Teachings.

It is our duty to constantly and unceasingly talk to others ‘in order to spread our ideas of unity. It is our responsibility to counteract every negative thought with a positive thought. ‘Abdu’l 165

Bahá advised us to change every thought of war into a stronger thought for peace.

The standard of God must again be hoisted. It is God’s plan for this day that humanity shall be united. We are entering the stage of maturity for all mankind. Let us do our part here and now to build a united world. Bahá’u’lláh has said, “That one is indeed a man who dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s promise keeps our courage and faith high. He assured us that “this is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world Will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes.”

The mission of the prophets, the revelation of the holy books, the manifestations of the heavenly teachers and the purpose of divine philosophy all center in the training of the human realities so that they may become clear and pure as mirrors and reflect the light and love of the Sun of Reality. Therefore I hope that whether you be in the east or the west you will strive with heart and soul in order that day by day the world of humanity may become glorified, more spiritual, more sanctified; and that the splendor of the Sun of Reality may be revealed fully in human hearts as in a mirror. This is worthy of the world of mankind. This is the true evolution and progress of humanity. This is the supreme bestowal.

—‘ABDU’L-BAHA

[Page 166]Costa Rica, the Beautiful

GAYLE WOOLSON

HEN I first read the fortifying, faith-imhuing statement of Bahá’u’lláh: “They that have forsaken their country for the purpose of teaching Our Cause—these shall the faithful Spirit strengthen through its power. A company of Our chosen angels shall go forth with them, as hidden by Him Who is the Almighty, the AII-Wise. How great the blessedness that awaiteth him that hath attended the honor of serving the Almighty! By My Life! No act, however great, can compare with it, except such deeds as have been ordained by God, the All-Powerfu], the Most Mighty. Such a service is indeed the prince of all goodly deeds, and the ornament of every goodly act,” I felt reinforced with an assurance that I would never hesitate or be afraid to go to any foreign country in the service of the Holy Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. It was, then, in response to the Guardian’s appeal for pioneers for Latin America in his message to the 1939 Convention that I was privileged to go to the beautiful land of Costa Rica. Costa Rica, the heart of the Americas, with its friendly, warm-hearted people of world

renowned hospitality, its rich picturesque scenery and delightful climate, is a jewel among Latin American countries unsurpassed in its beauty and charm. The name of this tiny Central American republic lying between Nicaragua and Panama means “Rich Shore” which bears eloquent testimony to the country’s wealth of blessings.

It was 011 March 23, 1940, that Mrs. Amalia Ford, the other pioneer; and I boarded the United Fruit Company steamship, the S. S. Ulua, at New Orleans, and headed for Costa Rica where we were to carry God’s new Message which Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed to the world to cure the ills that exist in society by establishing the Divine Teachings He revealed for the unification and spiritual regeneration of humanity.

On our way, the boat made a day’s stop at Havana, Cuba, where we were met at the dock by Philip and June Marangella, the first pioneers of that country. We spent a wonderful and eventful day with these devoted pioneers who have lent such valuable services to the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in Havana. We spent a memorable

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afternoon in their apartment that day where we were gathered with the first Bahá’í of Cuba, Sr. Perfecto Perez, and held a memorial meeting for Mrs. May Maxwell, the great international Bahá’í teacher, who had recently laid down her life in the path of God in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After thirty-eight years of consecrated, selflless service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, “her earthly life, so rich, eventful, incomparably blessed” was “worthily ended”. She who had won the “priceless honor (of a) martyr’s crown” and who has been titled the “Mother of the Latin races” is a shining example and great source of inspiration to all Bahá’í teachers.

We landed at Puerto Limon, the Atlantic port of Costa Rica, on March 29th, after an eXtremely pleasant week’s journey. Landing on Costa Rican shores was like entering into a new world. A thrilling new world it was, indeed, for I found myself, all at once, amidst Spanish speaking people, with different customs, temperaments and way of being. Not knowing Spanish at the time made this world especially new to me; Mrs. Ford, though, was well-versed in the language. We were immediately impressed with the friendly, cordial attitude of the people mak

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ing us feel welcome the instant we set foot on their soil.

A most picturesque and fascinating trip was the hundred-mile journey inland from the port to our final destination—San José, the capital city. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful rail trips in the world. Along the coast are the usual palm-fringed hays, inlets and rivers and the typical beautiful Vistas of the tropics, while the interior is high up in the mountains. An everchanging panorama of large banana, cacao and coffee plantations, sugar cane, cocoanut palms, tropical fruit and flower trees, orchid plants, valleys, rivers and streams, native huts with their friendly peasant owners waving at the passengers is disclosed as the train winds its way up the mountains until the lofty peaks of the Cordilleras, backbone of Central America, appear majestically on the horizon.

No less exhilarating than the magnificient scenery is the invigorating change that takes place in the atmosphere, introducing a spring-like tang in the air as one leaves the warmer coastal region and is carried to the bracing altitude of the interior. The view throughout this section of the journey may aptly be described as breath-taking. The whole valley of the Reventazon River may be seen with one sweep of the

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eye With the rushing river itself appearing as a tiny, narrow ribbon of white foam a thousand or more feet below the train. The charm and delights of Costa Rica grew hour by hour, and a highlight was experienced as the train, approaching San José, made a steep, Winding climb into the heart of the mountains. The heights were seen above where San José is embedded, and as we went higher and higher, it was as though we were ascending to some mysterious, unknown kingdom high up in the heavens. A heart-gripping e m o t i o n was sensed as we reached the capital, the new recipient of the light of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings for world unity, universal love and spiritual brotherhood, an emotion both of gratitude for the privilege of being a bearer of this glorious message to this virgin territory, and of awareness of the great responsibility Which such a mission implied.

San José is a beautiful, modern city, bordered on all sides with inspiring mountains. In addition to the numerous attractive parks, one sees an abundance of trees and flowers, occasionally an entire tree covered with red, yellow or lavender flowers adorning its setting. It has approximately 80,000 inhabitants, the majority of Whom are of almost pure Spanish descent. The altitude of

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the city is about 4,000 feet above sea level which gives it an ideal spring-Iike climate the year around with an average sea level temperature of 70 degrees, somewhat cooler at night. Every morning is a bright spring morning in San José. There is no autumn or cold winter. The trees, shrubs and grass are green, and the flowers bloom throughout the year. It has two seasons, the dry season from November to April and the rainy season during the remaining months when its rains in the afternoons, sometimes until evening, but the mornings are generally lovely and sunny. San J osé has been becoming more and more a summer resort.

In Costa Rica one finds a peaceful, peace-loving, hospitable people, rich and poor alike, and a tranquil atmosphere with none of the hustle and bustle of the large cities of North America. Life moves along in a leisurely sort of way, and the visitor eventually comes to realize that, after all, a little more of the “mafiana” spirit helps to make life more enjoyable. The beautiful innate qualities of the Latin Americans make them splendid Bahá’ís. They are a people of exquisite human feelings. They are kind, courteous, loving, friendly and tactful. They are extremely careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings, a trait which

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is a natural inclination of their sensitive natures. They have great spiritual and intellectual capacity, possess a keen sense of humor and are poets by nature, as among them the ability to compose poetry seems almost universally prevalent. Because of these characteristics and the growing trend toward liberalism, the Bahá’í Teachings have found great receptivity in Latin America.

Our first opening in getting our Bahá’í work started in San José was made through the Chamber of Commerce where we inquired about groups interested in liberal thought. We were informed that Senorita Esther Mezerville, a former director of the Girls’ College and a member of

the Theosophical Society was the

one to see. The kind gentleman giving us this information even telephoned her and made an appointment for us to see her. She was a charming, gracious lady of dignified bearing who listened to the Message with interest. She took us to visit Professor Roberto Brenes Mesen, well-known Costa Rican educator7 writer and poet, and his wife. In the course of our conversation, we were delighted to learn that he had spoken in the Temple some years ago when he lived in Evanston and taught at Northwestern University. Miss Mezer

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ville also contacted the president of the Theosophical Society in our behalf, who invited us to their hall where Mrs. Ford presented the Message. We found the Theosophists receptive to the Teachings and to be our true friends and collaborators.

Things moved fast for us and within a month after our arrival, a weekly Bahá’í study class was established. The few attendants we had were from the Theosophical Society and other contacts that were made. At that time we were living in a pension (boarding house) and the landlady gave us permission to use her dining room for our class. A funny incident occurred after our first meeting when the landlady had a sudden change of heart, and as the friends began to arrive for the second meeting, she firmly informed us that under no condition could we have our meeting there. We felt we had the right to use our own bedroom so we invited the friends in there but the lady would not allow us to use any of her chairs. With the use of the edge of the bed, some of our suit cases and the one lonely chair we had in the bedroom for seats, we happily carried on our meeting. Through the efforts of one of the friends, a small apartment was soon found for us where our meetings were conducted with freedom and regularity.

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Rapid progress was made with the marvelous cooperation of the friends. One would bring a relative, another a friend to the meetings and they would take active part by speaking and presenting papers they had written on the Teachings. They showed wonderful ability to express themselves both in speech and in writing. After the reading of passages from the Bahá’í Writings, most interesting discussions would follow. Almost invariably, someone would bring, of his own volition, a commentary he was inspired to write on some principle or aspect of the Cause. We were fortunate in getting fine publicity early in the course of our work as one of the new believers was the owner and editor of the magazine, “Alma Tica”, (meaning Costa Rican Soul), in which a section was devoted to the Bahá’í Teachings in each edition. Since the war, however, this publication has been temporarily discontinued.

The group grew to the extent that the following year, 1941, when the time arrived for the formation of the Spiritual Assembly, there were twelve Costa Rican Bahá’ís to take part in the election. In a letter from Shoghi Effendi to the Spiritual Assembly of San José, written December 17, 1941, by the Guardian’s

secretary, he said: “Your Assem WORLD ORDER

bly will go down in history as the first Bahá’í Assembly in Central America, a great distinction and blessing, and the Guardian feels that if you continue to progress so rapidly you will soon be in a position to spread the Cause, through representatives of your Community, in other neighboring lands. This would be of great value to the work of teaching these divine laws and truths, as then the Latin Americans would be hearing it from the lips of their own people, in their own language, which, of course, would be very efiective.”

The progress continued and in the following year on April 21, 1942, a Spiritual Assembly was formed in Puntarenas, a sea port on the Pacific side, in the province of that same name, another one of the seven provinces of Costa Rica. It was very interesting how this came about. Our one prized Bahá’í family of San José was visited by a son living in Puntarenas who was, as yet, unaware of the Teachings.

Upon being told of the Cause and reading some of the literature, he became aflame with ardor and devotion, finding, at last, that for which his soul was thirsting. He took Bahá’í books and pamphlets back with him when he returned to Puntarenas and in his place of work, the custom house, during spare mo [Page 171]COSTA RICA 171

ments, he would gather a few of his intimate friends, also employed in the Custom House or at the pier, and read the Teachings to them. He became the first Bahá’í of Puntarenas, and seven of the men were interested. They expressed a desire to form a study class. It was just at this time that the chairman of the San José Assembly was transferred to Puntarenas in his work, enabling him to help the new group with their meetings. As Puntarenas is only a four hour train ride from San José, I was able to visit them once a month. These men all became Bahá’ís and with the transfer of the San José Bahá’í making nine, the Spiritual Assembly was formed.

In June of that same year, the legal registration of the San José Spiritual Assembly with the Costa Rican Government was completed. According to Costa Rican law, the San José Spiritual Assembly is considered the mother Assembly in the country and any other Bahá’í Assembly formed in Costa Rica becomes automatically incorporated under this registration.

In the second letter from the Guardian, through his secretary, to the Spiritual Assembly of San José, dated July 26, 1942, he said: “The progress which the Bahá’ís of Costa Rica have made during the past year is little short

of astounding, and shows the deep receptivity the people of that country have to the New Message of God which Bahá’u’lláh has proclaimed to the world. You must all indeed be both proud and grateful that you live in a land so tolerant of progress, and which enables you. to establish the blessed institutions ordained by our Faith.

“The establishment of the new Spiritual Assembly of Puntarenas is a great step forward, and the legal registration of the Cause and approval of the government marks a milestone in the progress of the Cause not only in Costa Rica but in Latin America.

“The more the Guardian receives news from the Central and South American Republics, the more firmly he becomes convinced of the great capacity possessed by the peoples of Latin America. They are proving themselves to be both deeply spiritual and intellectual, and he cherishes great hopes for their future development and their contributions to this glorious Faith of ours.

“How wonderful that in less than a hundred years the message that originated in the heart of Persia should have spread to the heart of Central America, and kindled such love and devotion and hope as now burns in the hearts of the new believers in that distant continent!

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“The Guardian hopes that you will not only succeed in establishing further centers in your own native land, but that the activities of the Costa Rican Bahá’ís will spread to neighboring countries and aid in the establishment of the Faith there.”

The Message has also penetrated into other provinces of Costa Rica. The Theosophical group of the province of Alajuela invited the Bahá’ís of San José to present the Teachings at one of their gatherings. A group of thirteen Bahá’ís and friends made the trip and an interesting meeting was held. Much receptivity and enthusiasm was shown by the new listeners. We left books and pamphlets to be circulated among them. The ground of human hearts is so fertile now that wherever a teacher would go and remain a while, a group would be easily established. There does not seem to be enough teachers to supply the demand of the spiritually hungry souls that are craving Divine Light.

Our first Bahá’í of Puntarenas had an experience that resulted in the Message being taken into the Costa Rican province of Cartago. One day when he was at the pier in his city, he noticed that a man was watching him very intently. For several days, whenever he saw that man, the man’s eyes seemed to be fixed

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upon him. He inquired from among his friends who the man was and one said he thought he was a detective. This made our Bahá’í quite indignant; why should he be watched by a detective, he was not guilty of any offense! One day the man passed the Bahá’ís home and the two of them exchanged glances and an “adios”, the customary greeting. A few days later the man passed the house again. Our Bahá’í was in the parlor of his home which is built close to the sidewalk. The window and door were opened so the man stopped and casually started a conversation. Some Bahá’í books on a table in

the room caught his attention.

“What kind of books are those?” he asked. Our Bahá’í, thinking that the man was checking up on him and perhaps suspected him of having some kind of literature which he should not have, proudly answered that it was religious literature. “May I see one of those books?” he requested. The Bahá’í handed him one, and in his inner perturbation did not even notice which book it was. The man calmly and observingly turned the pages. He then asked if he could buy the book. The Bahá’í answered that he could borrow it and then if he felt he wanted it, he could have it. The man thanked him and took the book. It was Bahá’u’lláh and the

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New Era. The Bahá’í found out later that the man was not a detective but a guard at the pier and one whose soul thirsted for Divine Truth and he knew that our Bahá’í had possession of some new religious teaching. Every day for some days later, the Bahá’í noticed that the man spent all his spare moments at the pier in reading the book. After finishing it, the man asked for another, then another, having read in all, Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, Wisdom of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Some Answered Questions. The man later told the Bahá’í that he was moving to the province of Cartago and that he wanted to take the books with him. Some time later he wrote asking for more literature and

for pamphlets to give to his

friends. He was referred to me as it was more convenient to send literature from San José. His letter to me was very beautiful and unique in his inspired expressions of ‘devotion for the Cause. Here is a part of his letter translated into English: “It was on the 20th of July of this year (1943) that, by coincidence, this Sacred, Unique and Unparalleled depository of Teachings, Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, came into my hands. I consider this date memorable, glorious as today I have nothing comparable; and for me it is an inex

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haustible fountain of light, guidance, hope, certitude and assurance. My ultimate, one and only resolution is the upholding of this Holy Cause.” In a letter which he wrote to our Bahá’ís of Puntarenas, he said: “For twenty-six years I have dedicated my time to searching and meditating on religious matter and never in my life have teachings like the Bahá’í Teachings come into my possession. I am astonished, extremely satisfied and also always interested, but it is an interest which is well defined and without possibility of retrogression. In the reading, study and meditation of the Bahá’í Teachings, I feel great joy and ecstasy; it is something supernatural indeed. I feel the breath of the Holy Spirit in all my acts and occupations. It is in truth something supernatural that moves me. I arn7 I can say, a new creature, glory and thanks be to God.”

A very successful method used by the San José group to build up the meetings and make them better known was to occasionally invite some outstanding person of the city to be our speaker. We had such fine men as Professor Roberto Brenes Mesen, former professor of Northwestern University and distinguished writer and poet; Mr. Joaquin Garcia Monje, owner and editor of the widely circulated literary maga

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zine, “Repertorio Americano”, who has been very cooperative and generous in giving space for Bahá’í articles and who is an ExMinister of Public Education in Costa Rica and a former director of the Public Library, and has had the distinction of being invited by the League of Nations to Visit Geneva; Professor Jose B. Acuna, one of Costa Rica’s outstanding educators and psychologists, who is now teaching at the Winona Teachers’ College in Minnesota; and Mr. Benjamin Odio, lawyer, who also gave us his invaluable and generous assistance in obtaining the legal registration of the Spiritual Assembly. We deeply cherish the friendship of these kind friends and shall forever be grateful for their valuable help.

Visits from other pioneers are always very effective and helpful in the development of a. group. It is hard to express how a pioneer thirsts for Visits from fellow-pioneers while in those Virgin and distant lands, especially when the Community is just a new one, and what a great joy, rare treat and fortification it is to see them, to talk with them, to derive the blessings of their association and assistance. If only more would come! Pioneers who Visited us in Costa Rica, in the order in which they came, were: Gerard Sluter, Mathew

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Kaszab, Cora Oliver, Louise Caswell, J ohnny Eichenauer and Virginia Orbison. Gerard Sluter Visited San José while on his way to Colombia from Guatemala, Mathew Kaszab came from Nicaragua, Cora Oliver and Louise Caswell from Panama, Johnny Eichenauer from Salvador after also having visited Honduras and Nicaragua, and Virginia Orbison Visited us on her way to Chile from the United States. Each has left his special contribution to the growth and strengthening of the Costa Rican Bahá’í Community.

The San José Community is proud that two of its members have done pioneer work, Dr. David Escalante who cooperated with Mrs. Dorothy Baker in Venezuela and Sr. Gerardo Vega who has assisted with the work in Panama.

It is such a great thrill and source of immeasurable joy to witness, through the wondrous ways of God, the birth, establishment and growth of a Bahá’í Community in a virgin land. Throughout every moment of activity, as one door of opportunity opens after another in the promotion of the Holy Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, the pioneer is always vividly aware of the miraculous and mysterious workings of His Divine Spirit, aware of his own utter nothingness and of how

[Page 175]COSTA RICA

he does nothing, that he is merely an instrument, a key in the Hands of the Great Door-Opener and that it is His Spirit and Power that do the work.

The interesting eyperiences, joys and blessings of pioneering are indeed abundant, and once a taste of pioneer service is had, it is like something that gets into one’s blood and it does not seem possible to be content without it; and what is given and sacrificed, be it of oneself or any other contribution, is as nothing in comparison to what is received in return, in both the spiritual and material sense of the word. It makes us realize that a mystery of sacrifice is that there is no sacrifice, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us.

Of my many experiences, the following is one I shall always cherish. One day in June, 1942, a Chinese family moved into an apartment adjoining mine. The next day, as I heard one of my new neighbors walking in the corridor towards my front door, I, too, went toward the door to meet him. My wide front door which gave entrance directly into the parlor Was open, and there in the doorway stood a dignified Chinese gentleman; he was looking at the Greatest Name which was hanging on the wall facing the entrance. “You are a Bahá’í!” were his first words as he

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shook my hand. “I am Mr. Z. T. Ing, the Chinese Consul of Nicaragua. This is the third time I have seen this Bahá’í symbol,” continued the gentle, soft-toned Visitor. “The first time was in China when I met a very friendly Bahá’í teacher (regrettably, he could not remember her name), then once in the United States, and now here.” He then went back to his apartment and brought his wife, a sweet, gracious lady who was dressed in a charming Chinese garb, and in introducing us, he said: “Mama, she is a Bahá’í.” They expressed an excellent opinion of the Bahá’ís. A few days later, after Mr. Ing had finished reading the Wisdom of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he said that the Bahá’í Teachings would find great receptivity in China as that is the way the Chinese think.

He had brought his family from Managua, Nicaragua, to San José to enjoy more comfortable climate but his work called him back there. He would make occasional Visits to San José and on one of these visits, when he was attending a Bahá’í meeting, he made a beautiful statement about the Cause which thrilled and inspired us. He said “I have faith in the Bahá’í Religion because it is the essence of all religions and the basis of it is that it accepts all races on an equal basis. It is something which

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meets with the needs of these times and it satisfies within. I firmly believe it will replace all the existing religions of the world and it Will he the one Universal Religion for all.”

During the stay of the family in San José, we became very good friends and they were so kind, so hospitable and loving that I felt a part of them. They even gave me lessons in eating with chopsticks though I always ended up resorting to the fork if I wanted any nourishment.

The way some of the believers are attracted to the Cause is often reminiscent of The Dawn-Breakers and shows how many are long before prepared in the spirit to receive the Divine Message. One believer of San José had a dream seven years before she learned of the Cause in which she was sitting at the foot of a tree When a venerable figure of Oriental appearance, with a white beard and wearing a beautiful white turban approached her and handed her a tray on which were some exquisite fruit and a crystal pitcher of water. He spoke to her in her ear and as he did so she beheld a magnificent temple. It was seven years later when her husband who was attending the Bahá’í meetings brought home the Spanish version of the Wisdom of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and as she opened it and saw the picture of ‘Abdu’l WORLD ORDER

Bahá on the frontispiece, she recognized Him as the venerable figure in her dream.

The pioneer, besides enjoying the many happy experiences which flower his path, is faced

V with difficulties as well. One of

these that came my way was experienced when I received a cable from home notifying me of the grave illness of my mother and later of her passing. My family wanted me to come home but I did not feel I could leave my post. The situation was difficult because of very young brothers and sisters at home. It was my sister Dahela who took over our mother’s place with the family responsibilities, and t h 0 u g h young herself, she valiantly shouldered her task. This enabled me to remain in Costa Rica and since then I have always rightfully referred to her as the “pioneer at home” as had it not been for her, I would not have been enabled to remain in the pioneer field. It was soon after this that Mrs. Ford returned to the United States after a year and a half of devoted service. My adventure in learning Spanish began upon my arrival in Costa Rica. In fact, there is no better school for acquiring a foreign language than to be in the country where it is spoken. At first I attended the girls’ college known as the “Colegio Su [Page 177]COSTA RICA

perior de Senoritas” and although I did not receive instruction in Spanish there, I went to he among the students to hear the language spoken by them and the teachers and to practice by means of conversation with the girls. It was a most delightful experience. Outside of school, I had a private Spanish teacher from whom I received two_ lessons a week. The following year I attended the newly inaugurated University of Costa Rica. I made a special

study of the verbs and concentrated much effort on learning the various conjugations. In my conception, once the verhs are grasped, the rest in Spanish comes easily. It is a beautiful, rich language and a key for un locking the treasures of the Latin American soul.

The Costa Ricans love the English language and many of them speak it. They are especially eager to study it with some one from North America so as to hear the American accent. It was

shortIy after I arrived that I found myself with several students. The number of students grew as time went on and eventually I was also able to give Spanish lessons to a few Englishspeaking students. This work was continued until I was em ployed as secretary and translator at the Pan-American Highway

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Office which was set up in San José.

While in Costa Rica, I met people from various Latin American countries, and it was interesting to note how those from different countries spoke Spanish with different inflections, each having a typical melody peculiar to his country. One can recognize those from other countries by the “song” in their speech. When I Visited Guatemala after learning Spanish in Costa Rica, I was a m u s e d when Guatemalans would say to me, “You come from Costa Rica, don’t you?” They could tell, they said, because I spoke with the Costa Rican song. The people from Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico, for example, have a very marked inflection.

It was a jubilant occasion when the delegate of Costa Rica to the Centenary Convention was informed by the National Spiritual Assembly that he would be enabled to go to the United States to attend that momentous event.

He brought the letter to me to translate it for him and we could hardly believe it to be really true; we had not considered that such a great undertaking could be realized, making it possible for the Latin American delegates to attend that glorious celebration within the walls of our ma

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jestic Temple. As we read this wonderful news, we were so overtaken by emotion and excitement, we did not know whether we were going to laugh or cry. Profound joy and gratitude filled our hearts. All the Latin American delegates must have felt that same emotion when they learned that an experience that occurs once in a lifetime was to be theirs. Only the power of Bahá’u’lláh could accomplish such a great achievement, to bring together in love and unity representatives of these various Latin American countries with all those that would be gathered in North America, breaking down the barriers of distance, language and lack of means and demonstrating that spiritual brotherhood which is the salvation of all nations. This undertaking had a great effect not only on the Bahá’ís of Latin America but also on the other Latin Americans who learned of it, making them real ize more deeply the scope and

power of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

After four years in the wonderful country of Costa Rica, the time had come for my departure. It had been like going through four years of school, a school of life, to better enable me to serve the Cause of God. The evening before I left, a happy close to my stay was occasioned by the one

WORLD ORDER

who was the first to open the doors to the Message in that country, Miss Esther Mezerville, a former director of the Girls’ College and an outstanding member of the Theosophical Society not only in Costa Rica but in all Of Latin America. She told me that she was going to speak of the Bahá’í Faith at their meeting that evening and so I attended. After the kind words of the president who spoke of the important work of the Bahá’í Faith in Costa Rica, Miss Mezerville spoke of world unity as the sign and need of the times and said that in their endeavor to seek their ideal of world brotherhood, they must be alert to movements working toward unity in the world today. She then put emphasis on the great work of the Bahá’í Faith in fostering unity among all religions and races, and stated, “I am now reading Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era,” as she drew the book out of her purse, “and I am convinced that the Bahá’í Faith is the future religion of the world.” She recommended the investigation of the Teachings to her fellow members. Her beautiful words and the spirit and conviction with which she spoke them shall ever be engraved on my heart.

It was on April 18, 1944, that I left Costa Rica to spend three weeks in Guatemala City and

[Page 179]COSTA RICA 179

then return to the United States. There were mixed emotions within me on that lovely bright morning as friends, both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, gathered to see me off at the airport and showered me with gifts, bouquets and corsages. The feeling of sadness on leaving t h e s e dearly-beloved friends was mingled with that of joy at visiting another LatinAmerican Bahá’í Community and then attending the Centenary Convention and seeing my family and friends at home again. As I boarded the Pan-American airship, I waved to the friends with a feeling of comfort in knowing that the Costa Rican Bahá’ís would staunchly carry on their vital task.

On the way to Guatemala, the plane made a short stop at Nicaragua, Honduras and Salvador, and at each of these countries it was thrilling to have a brief visit with Bahá’í friends who were waiting for me at the airport.

Every moment of my visit to Guatemala City with our wonderful pioneer, Mrs. Florence Keemer, and the Guatemalan Bahá’ís was so filled with activity and glorious experiences that it, in itself, is a long story. Here is a beautiful, picturesque and colorful city; it is modern and sparkles with cleanliness. The streets

of Guatemala are said to be the

éleanest in the world. This beauty was glorified by its lovable people” equally as warm-hearted, hospitable and gracious as those of Costa Rica. Mrs. Keemer’s radiant love and charm had won her many friends among whom there was an amazing receptivity to the Divine Teachings, and her excellent work was exemplified by the outstanding Bahá’í group I was privileged to know and work with for that short period.

There are indeed priceless treasures in store for anyone who arises to serve the Cause. “The Almighty will no doubt grant you the help of His grace, will invest you with the tokens of His might, and will endue your souls with the sustaining power of His holy Spirit.”

“All must participate, however humble their origin, however limited their experience, however restricted their means, however deficient their education, however pressing their cares, however unfavorable the environment in which they live.”

“The field is indeed so immense, the period so critical, the Cause so great, the workers so few, the time so short, the priviof the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. lege so priceless, that no follower worthy to hear His name, can afford a moment’s hesitation.”

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galitoria/

HE resistless march of hu manity toward unity, impelled by the operation of new forces disclosing the intervention of the providential order, has arrived at a crucial stage. In His division of the process of unification into seven different aspects or degrees, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá placed first the element of unity in the political realm, and followed this by the second unity, “unity of thought in world undertakings”.

Without doubt it is the experience of participation in world undertakings which will confirm the peoples and nations in their determination to achieve world order, and at the same time prepare them to make proper use of its latent facilities.

It is assuredly not without spiritual significance that the attainment of a charter of unified political action coincides with conditions of desperate need prevalent in every part of the world. From medical supplies and care to food and housing, from the development of elementary social institutions to the provision of financial credit, from the exchange of production equipment and raw material to

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World Undertakings

the restoration of uprooted peoples to their lands and homes, the entire earth passes through a time of deepest crisis when nothing short of worldwide planning, worldwide organization and worldwide action can bring the dawn of a valid and permanent hope.

To the fundamental. argument arising from the destructiveness of war as impetus to lasting peace, we have today the no less potent influence of the tragic needs felt by the surviving nations, exceeding the capacity of any nation or race to solve by its own unaided efforts and facilities. Indeed, while the nature of the tragic need varies from country to country, the essential fact of need is uniform, and this stark truth lays upon humanity a sacred obligation, a providential necessity, which none can escape. F rom this point of View the distinction between rich nations and poor nations, between powerful nations and impotent nations, is nothing else than illusion. Destiny itself has so arranged affairs that those parts of earth which have surplus food cannot partake of even part of it very long unless they attain

[Page 181]WORLD UNDERTAKINGS 181

social and economic equilibrium within their own peoples, Which depends on suitable intercourse and cooperation with all other peoples. The greater the industrial establishment which one nation has developed, the greater is its stake in the stability and wealth of nations which in this respect have lagged behind. If impoverishment is allowed to remain anywhere, its breeding of disease or revolution will threaten the survival of all others. If the mountainous accumulation of government bonds and notesthe sign of wealth from the legalistic point of vieW—cannot gradually be replaced by an equivalent amount of investments in wealth-produeing enterprise, the rise of industrialism 'will have eventuated not in the progress of the individual but in the creation of a confiscatory state.

F ortunately, at this crucial

stage, the need for action outruns the world’s capacity to deal with all these needs in terms of traditional economics, social philosophy or political doctrine. We cannot reduce human desperation to the level of the habits and customs of the past. What appears to be happening is that mankind is trying to match its desperation with its facilities, heal the patient with the remedies and equipment on hand, share food' with the starving, and resettle the homeless exile, in an instinctive realization that nothing done in unity is done against the truth, that the enlargement of the area of unity of action will prepare us for the new and greater truths to come. Success in world undertakings now will carry the world beyond many disastrous conflicts over empty doctrine and discredit many artificial claims which seek

to tax the future for a long-dead past. —H. H.

In this day . . .

means of communication have multiplied, . . . All

the members of the human family, whether peoples 0r governments, cities or villages have become increasingly interdependent. For none is selfsufliciency any longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite all peoples and nations, and the bonds of trade and industry, of agriculture and education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved.

~‘ABDU’L-BAHA

Take ye (rulers of the earth) counsel together, and let your concern be only for that which profiteth mankind and bettereth the condition thereof.

-Bahá’u’lláh

[Page 182]

Progress Toward an International Language

ARTHUR DAHL

ITH His far-seeing wisdom, Bahá’u’lláh realized that in today’s integrated, cooperative world, it was essential that peoples of all nations and races should be able to exchange ideas freely and directly, both verbally and in writing. Since it was out of the question for everyone to learn all the multitudinous languages and dialects, the obvious alternative, which He included in His basic social teachings, was the adoption of an auxiliary in: ternational language, which each person would learn in addition to his native language. This auxiliary language could either be an existing language, or one especially created for the purpose. Sensible though this idea is, it has been very slow in reaching widespread acceptance and understanding. One reason has been the failure, until recently, to fully appreciate the necessity for international intercourse. A second reason has been the difficulty of selecting the auxiliary language. Each language group would like to see its own tongue selected, both to gain prestige, and to avoid learning a second language. For a long while French was tacitly accepted as the common

language in international society and diplomacy. In recent years, with the increasing predominance of the United States, English has been gaining acceptance in this capacity. To a large segment of the world, Spanish is dominant. Yet in the case of none of these tongues has there been a concerted movement to secure widespread acceptance as the international language.

To overcome the obstacle of national pride, several efforts have been made in the last sixty years to develop an entirely new language, with the necessary qualifications for an auxiliary language carefully incorporated. Most well known to date has been Esperanto, initiated in 1887 by Dr. L. L. Zamenhof. This language has many advantages. It is euphonious, logical, and regular in construction; the grammar is easily grasped; every rule is without exception; the spelling is phonetic; and the dictionary is small. It was favorably received in many parts of the world, and enjoyed a period of intense promotion, climaxed in the 1920’s when the League of Nations published a favorable memorandum on the teaching of Esperanto in the schools of the

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[Page 183]INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

world, and the International Telegraphic Union Association recognized it as a “clear language.” Several Bahá’í books have been translated into Esperanto.

A more recent candidate to receive widespread attention is Basic English, the creation of C. K. Ogden of Cambridge, and actively sponsored in this country by Dr. Ivor A. Richards of Harvard. This system consists of a vocabulary of 850 words: 400 general nouns, 150 adjectives, 100 “operators” (verbs, participles, pronouns, etc.), and 200 names of picturable things. There are subsidiary lists of words for the use of technicians and specialists in various fields. The words have been selected because of their cooperative utility, rather than their frequency of usage. The syntax of Basic is that of normal English. Its proponents claim that it is ideal both as a simple and easily learned auxiliary language, and as a rational introduction to unlimited English. Though the system was given a strong impetus when it was referred to by Prime Minister Churchill at Harvard, it remains to be seen what response will be forthcoming from the rest of the world to a proposal for an auxiliary language based on English.

But whereas progress toward a

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true auxiliary language has been slow, the war has brought about a veritable revolution in the teaching and dissemination of existing languages. The emergency need for thousands of service men who could speak not only the leading European languages, but also the intricate and littleknown tongues of Malaya, the Far East, and the Pacific islands, gave an opportunity to a new system of teaching practice known as linguistic science, in which the United States has taken the lead through the pioneer efforts of anthropologist Franz Boas. The new system has passed with flying colors its test applications in short7 intensive Army and Navy courses in selected American universities, and its proponents feel that it will make the learning of several languages common practice after the war.

The development of methods by which languages may be learned quickly and easily will do much to bring about greater understanding among the peoples of the world, and by demonstrating this through concrete experience the advantages of spoken intercourse between races should eventually lead to acceptance of the principle of an auxiliary lan guage.

This is one in a series of articles which will present signs of progress in world affairs.

[Page 184]The World Without Nations

Book Review

BERTHA HYDE KIRKPATRICK

HE thesis of this book* by Arth ur Freud is: “as long as we shall have nations we shall have wars.” Conversely the author holds that if we can do away with nations we can do away with war which is the greatest curse to humanity today. The author is especially concerned with the map of Europe although he does not ignore the rest of the world. By specific examples he shows that “for practical reasons the conceptions of ‘nation’, ‘race’, have lost any meaning; they have become a farce, a pretext, a menace to world’s peace.” Americans, for the most part, have all too little comprehension of the problems of nationalities and national honudaries in Europe, especially eastern Europe. One of the values of this book is that the author, who has lived and traveled in Europe, by his illustrative examples 'of boundary wars and disputes and actual authentic stories of the intermingling of nationalities and races, makes it clear to the reader how deep seated and long standing these nation problems are and also that whatever solution is worked out it will not be satisfactory to everyone concerned. This does not mean, however, that there is no solution.

Mr. Freud speaks, he says, as a common man to common men in the interests, not of nations, but of humanity, and for the sake of humanity we must have a warless world. He believes this is possible. His book is written for the purpose of rousing

I"l‘he World Without Nations, Arthur Freud. The Hohson Book Press, Cynthiana, Ky., 1943.

common people to an understanding of the causes of war and to intelligent thinking in the direction of effective arrangements for peace. Such right thinking must precede right action.

It is in the smaller nations of Europe that many problems arise, the author holds. Economically they cannot be seIf-sufficient, politically they cannot defend themselves. Some of the smaller nations, however, especially those in western Europe, have much to contribute to the world in the way of cooperation and social security regulations.

Mr. Freud’s solution to problems which arise, he believes, from overemphasis on material lines, is to group nations into blocs which would be federated into what he calls suprastates. He suggests that such federations might follow the model of the government of the United States. In Europe, for example, these states might be called the Northern Bloc, the Central Bloc, the Western Bloc, the Southern Bloc. These suprastates should not, he says, he named for any particular nation. Thus one source of jealousy and rivalry would he removed. The author gives many reasons why such an organization of countries is a step in the direction of final world federation.

Mr. Freud explains that the reason for the formation of several states into one bloc is primarily economic and he would not have such an arrangement interfere with culture and language. On this point he writes, “In advocating blocs of states, i.e., supra-national states, it should be

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[Page 185]WORLD WITHOUT NATIONS

made clear that it is not suggested to force people to give up their nationality. Nationality can, as much as religion, be regarded as a private aflair that concerns an individual or

a group. If a large community wants to be Czech and to adhere to certain

peculiarities connected with Czechism, there can be no question of letting people have their will. As long as nationality remains a cultural affair, no objection can be raised to it.”

This book was published in 1943 and much water has gone under the bridge since then in the way of discussions and actual plans for world organization. There are tendencies towards regional alliance such as the P‘an-American Union and certain groupings in Europe. In the past there have been proposals for the, federation of Europe but they have so far borne no fruit. Mr. Freud’s plan is difl'erent. These Supra-states would be stronger than alliances but would not put all Europe into one federation. There are perhaps some trends in this direction at present, but it would seem that they would be more likely to develop after a world organization has been formed than as a step in that direction.

185

Whatever may be the steps in bringing about a federation of the world, Mr. Freud’s book, which shows up by abundant examples and historical evidence the folly and danger of cherishing national and racial prejudices, is valuable. Every effort to arouse people’s intelligence on these questions is worthy. Nationalism and racialism which Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, has classified as two of the three “Chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind” must be done away with if we are to have lasting peace. Some may question whether these idols can be destroyed by a regrouping of peoples or ignoring boundary lines. Must not the remedy for these and other maladies of the sick world go deep into the hearts of individuals?

Such books as this, the many articles and discussions about world organization together with the actual plans drawn up at Dumbarton Oaks, modified and adopted at San Francisco are indications that Bahá’u’lláh’s words, “It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world,” have in truth “Lent a fresh impulse, and set

a new direction to the birds of men’s hearts.”

In former ages it has been said: “To love one’s native land is faith.” But the Tongue of grandeur hath said in the day of this Manifestation: “Glory is not his who loves his native land; but glory is his who love his kind.”

The people of the world in general must adhere to that which is revealed and hath appeared, so that they may attain to the real freedom.

It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and

mankind its citizens.

—Bahá’u’lláh

[Page 186]

Early Growth of the Bahá’í Faith

MARIAM HANEY

HAT were the most important teaching events of the

pioneer period of the Bahá’í Cause in the United States and Canada? The answer is that it would be unwise to make even a guess, for the Whole period from 1894 to 1911 inclusive, was a continued miracle On miracle because it was made possible not because of human words and works, but because of Divine intervention and assistance. The believers themselves were7 for the most part, not entirely conscious that a mysterious power was the dynamic back of all achievement. However, a few of the outstand ing features of that time were:

1st. The teaching about the importance of the Covenant, which teaching safeguarded the religion so that the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh could not be divided into sects.

2nd. The whole-hearted obedience to the Center of the Covenant at every point in teaching and in all that this attitude means.

3rd. The full demonstration that “Faith is a wonder working power.” The faith manifested by the believers was sublime, and some day the world will realize how marvelous a thing it was,

and what these people of faith were accomplishing in their midst; it was like the faith of the early Christians, they believed truly and deeply, it was “the normal accent of life” and they translated it into the world 01c action.

4th. The spread of the Bahá’í Message far and wide Without any organization, no paid teachers, nor any official Bahá’í Fund.

5th. The dawn is this country of the greatest seed sowing of Truth in all religious history. The dawn-breakers of the Occident were at work in the springtime of the Kingdom of God on earth.

6th. Great emphasis at all times from the very beginning on the removal of prejudice of all kinds, the promulgation of universal peace, and the establishment of the principle of the oneness of mankind.

The Tree of Life in the garden of the earthly world was beginning to grow, evidences of its vigor and strength were always evident and encouraging, but the pioneers understood, too, that planting a seed today did not mean the full grown tree tomorrow for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá often reminded them that, “A seed in the

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[Page 187]EARLY GROWTH

beginning is very small, but in the end a great tree. . . . Consider the days of Jesus when there was only a small body of people, and then observe the great tree which grew from that seed and what an abundant fruit is produced. This is greater than that, forasmuch as it is the calling of the Lord of Hosts and the Voice of the Trumpet of the Living God. . . .”

And all the time that the seeds of the Bahá’í Faith were germinating in the soil of human hearts, and the instructions and encouragement in Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were reaching His followers, He Himself was a Prisoner of the Turkish government—-—a prisoner in the fortified city of ‘Akká, Palestine, by the shores of the Mediterranean sea, having been for forty years imprisoned because of His religion and the spiritual teachings He was sending to all parts of the world. Indeed “the ways of God are past finding out.”

In 1908 the people of Turkey established a constitutional government through the coming into power of the Young Turks and their “Union and Progress Society.” All the political prisoners were immediately freed, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left the gloomy prison city for the freedom of the world. When asked later how He regarded His freedom, He

187

replied: “Freedom is not a matter of place. It is a condition. I was thankful for the prison, and the lack of liberty was very pleasing to me for those days were passed. in the path of service under the utmost difficulties and trials, bearing fruits and results. . . . I was happy all the time in prison. When one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed release, for that is the greater prison. When this release takes place, then one cannot be outwardly imprisoned. . . . Release comes by making of the will a Door through which the confirmations of the Spirit come.”

Why did ‘Abdu’l-Bahá suffer indignities, privations and torture all those long years in prison? The answer is of course, for the love of humanity, for the promulgation of the Laws of this New Day, “to make man conscious of his eternal part . . that fleshly veils might be rent asunder and reality become manifest.” While in prison ‘Abdu’l-Bahá never complained, but created happiness in every heart and served humanity in nearly all parts of the world. This is the miracle of all miracles—from His prison spreading His teachings, His followers increasing, His Faith being advanced daily. Only God knows the answer as to how it was all accomplished. Of this imprisonment ‘Abdu’l [Page 188]188

Baha has written many things, but the scope of this article permits of but a brief quotation: “Two Kings arose against Bahá’u’lláh—~the Shah of Persia and the Sultan of Turkey. They imprisoned His Holiness in the Fortress of‘Akká (Palestine) in order to extinguish His Light and

exterminate His Cause. But Baha- ,

’u’llah while in prison wrote them letters of severe arraignment. He declared that imprisonment was no obstacle to Him. He said ‘This imprisonment will prove to he the means of the promotion of My Cause. This imprisonment will he the incentive for the spreading of My Teachings. No harm will come to Me because I have sacrificed My life, sacrificed My blood, sacrificed My possessions—all I have sacrificed —and for Me this imprisonment is no loss.’ And just as He declared, so it came to pass. In prison He hoisted His banner, and His Cause was spread throughout the world. . . . These two Kings could not do anything

WORLD ORDER

to withstand Bahá’u’lláh, but through Him God was able to destroy both sovereignties. I, too, was in prison. God removed the chains from My neck and placed them around the neck of ‘Abdu’l-Hamid. It was done suddenly, not in a long time, in a moment as it were. . . . I was happy in imprisonment. I was in the utmost elation, because I was not a criminal. They had impris oned Me in the Path of God.”

Some time after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had been “delivered from the shackles of a long and cruel incarceration,” He left Haifa suddenly and began a journey which included Egypt, France and England, and then a return to Egypt.

Many in the United States and Canada longed to see Him, to hear Him expound the Bahá’í Teachings, and the longing was constant and intense. However, it seemed that the actual realization of such hopes was unbelievable.

Number five in a series of notations on Bahá’í activity in North America from 1893 to 1921.

So imperturbable was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s equanimity that, while rumors were being bruited about that He might be cast into the sea, or exiled to Fizan in Tripolitania, or hanged On the gallows, He, to the amazement of His friends and the amusement of His enemies, was to be seen planting trees and Vines in the garden of His house, whose fruits when the storm had blown over, He would bid His faithful gardener, Isma’il Aqé, pluck and present to those same friends and enemies on the occasion of their Visits to Him.

-—SHOGHI EFFENDI in God Passes By

[Page 189]

OON after world war one Mrs. J.

Stannard was in Haifa and asked ‘Abdu’l-B‘ahé concerning the state of the souls of all those young men who had fallen so suddenly and tragically during the war. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s reply as reported by Mrs. Stannard and printed in The Star of the West, volume 10, page 336, will comfort parents whose sons are a sacrifice in this present war.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá is reported to have said in substance that God treats these people with His mercy, not with His justice, since God is against war. But as many did not will the war, but were obliged to go to the battle field by force of circumstanees, therefore God has mercy for they suffered much and lost their lives. These deserve the forgiveness of God. As they suffered in the world and were afflicted by great calamities and their blood was shed and in reality they were treated unjustly and thus died unwillingly, therefore God will have mercy and forgive their shortcomings and will reward them. He will compensate them for loss. Is it just to be so afflicted and killed and suffer and have no reward? This is contrary to the Kingdom of God. We supplicate God that these murdered ones will become and stay alive in His Kingdom and be submerged in the sea of His mercy and be happy.

• * ‘II'

Special airmailing of World Order to John Eichenauer in Germany by a friend has brought this happy and newsy letter of thanks from John:

“Thanks very much for airmailing World Order magazine to me. The

WITH OUR READERS

May number reached me on the 22nd of May and I gave it to Anna Kostlin the same day. . . . The June number arrived on June 15th.

“W—, a member of my company, has recently embraced the Faith, and it has brought me great happiness. He is a writer and booklover from B~—~. He has been studying for over a year and World Order magazine has been an influencing factor. He says meeting the Bahá’ís in Paris was the turning point. A couple of days ago he opened the battalion library and displayed copies of W orld Order and Bahá’í Convention News. For such a short time in the Faith he is really being ‘unrestrained as the wind’ in proclaiming the truths of Bahá’u’lláh. He is writing an account of our first Feast Day observance. . . .

“I recently made a tour of southern Germany and Austria and met Fred Mortensen of Chicago in Salzburg. We were together for an evening and covered outstanding events since we met in February in Saarebourg, France. One of the snaps taken near Brenner Pass is a good boost for World Order.” [The picture shows a group of three soldiers relaxing on the grass, one readingr W orld Order magazine. Editor’s note]

‘I‘ * ‘l‘

W orld Order magazine needs new contributors as well as continued contributions from our old and tried ones. Following the instructions of the Guardian and under the direction of the NSA all Bahá’ís are makingr a major effort to carry the Bahá’í

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Message to the leaders of thought and to the masses. The editors hope to make the magazine a more efficient and attractive carrier of this message than ever before. The articles, poems, travel stories, dissertations must come from you. We suggest some of the types of material the magazine can use:

Articles on Baha” 1 principles related to present world conditions.

Bahá’í news from all lands written up in a universal way.

Articles on the great world religions, accurate and reliable.

Travel articles with Baha 1 news.

Baha’ ihistory, fresh and authentic, and1 Bahá’í ” biographies.

Signs of the times in current thought.

Articles on Bahá’í literature which have not already appeared in recent issues.

Articles by non-Bahá’ís of universal outlook.

Articles based on personal experience of spiritual influences.

Poems.

Brief news of unusual interest dealing with teaching incidents or public response either in this or other countries ( to be used in this “With Our Readers,” department} . Also questions and suggestions for this department.

The aim of World Order magazine is to be a means of spiritual education, knowledge and stimulus to the believer, a source of study material to the group, a means of direct teaching to the individual teacher and to the community, and a concentration upon the creative Word in order to contribute to the inner life of meditation and prayer. The aim is first to reach and help the believer and through him thep nonbeliever.

WORLD ORDER

The annual report of Mrs. Wood, our business manager, shows that for the first time in its thirty years of publication this Bahá’í magazine has met manufacturing and overhead costs. This means an increased circulation and with your help the circulation can be further increased. Here then is a readymade audience of some twenty-seven hundred. While the majority of subscribers are Bahá’ís we can 'safely say that through them as many more non-Bahá’ís are reached. Where else can

you find such an audience?

• ‘I 1'

Letters such as the following from Mr E. W. Handley, Librarian of the Hobart Bahá lAssemhly, Tasmania Australia, are most welcome:

“The February issue to hand on March 20th. This is a comprehensive and good issue. Sometimes there is too much reiteration of the same history of the Cause in one issue. A brief reference when possible to the Cause in distant and little known countries outside America would i]lustrate its universal character. Perhaps short paragraphs, recording the adoption of Bahá’í principles by other bodies, would indicate to readers our real interest in current trends of thought.”

May we say that the reason the editors do not print more material from distant and little known countries outside of America is that the friends in these countries do not send it to us. We have repeatedly asked for short newsy letters to be used in this department and for longer wellwritten articles about Bahá’í life in other countries.

• * ‘I

Here is a bit from a letter expressing the joy and happiness which comes to the Bahá’í pioneer: “I’m

[Page 191]WITH OUR READERS

writing about pioneering since I have been a pioneer . . . for over two years. And my parents are pioneering here too. Most people dream of going to California to end their days, but my parents (dad is 70 years old) came from California after 24. years there to pioneer in . And they say that they have gained more from their pioneering here than the sacrifice they made in giving up their beautiful home in the California sunshine. I, too, feel that no sacrifice is too great for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and the rewards are most glorious. I wish that others could see it too.”

In a brief article entitled “We Are All Pioneers” which came with this letter the writer urges others to get their share of the rich experience of the pioneer. She says, in part:

“Today, in the second Bahá’í century, comes the clarion call that opens new vistas of limitless service. ‘We are all pioneers in a new and all-embracing task.’ . . . Young people, especially, have a glorious opportunity to go forth to fresh fields and bring new visions of achievement to other youth. And, too, it is among young people that one finds a breaking down of the barriers of prejudice and the willingness to try new methods, and to put new ideals into practice. Youth hasn’t yet found out that ‘it can’t be done’ and so achieves new goals. In the South, for instance, it is the youth that are breaking down the interracial barriers. As one young girl said to me recently, ‘The older ones are impossible, but I find that boys and girls of high school age are responsive to the idea that all people are human beings and should be treated as suc .’ ”

Then the writer urges that older people are needed, too, for their more mature judgment and wisdom

191

and adds: “When you make the sacrifice of leaving your home, when you pull up roots, pass up an easy, comfortable life and ‘step forth on the field of action,’ then you add something to the spirit of our Faith that is akin to the spirit of our earliest, most steadfast martyrs. And you gain a relationship with God that will bring you such joy as you have only dreamed of. Action is real living.”

• * ‘I‘

An approach to the question of world peace which points out quite explicitly how Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings furnish the broad basis essential for lasting peace is “Building a United World,” by Margaret Ruhe, who has previously contributed to World 0rder. “After the War: One World” was printed in our January, 1944,

issue, and a book review, “The Road We Are Traveling,” in July, 1943.

Mrs. Ruhe lives in Atlanta, Ga., where both she and her husband, Dr. David Ruhe, Who also contributes to this magazine, are active in Bahá’í work. Their names are also among

those who are able at times to travel and speak for the Bahá’í Faith.

“Costa Rica, the Beautiful,” by Gayle Woolson is a first hand 30‘ count of how the Bahá’í Faith has been established in one of the LatinAmerican Republics in the last seven or eight years. At last accounts only one of the twenty Latin-American republics was lacking a Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly and pioneer work was being done there. In volume VIII of the Bahá’í World we read: “Nothing in the history of the Faith in America compares with the response which has been made to the Guardian’s appeal for settlement of pioneer teachers in Latin-American countries.” In

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the impressive list of some twentyodd names which follows we find Mrs. Woolson’s. Experiences of other pioneers are just as full of interest and such accounts help us to become acquainted with each other. The editors hope that other pioneers will follow Mrs. Woolson’s example. We understand that Mrs. Woolson will

soon take up her residence in Bogota, Colombia.

The series by Mariam Haney showing the growth of our Faith in the early days in America and acquainting us with many of those who worked to promote the Faith, is continued this month under the title, “Early Growth of the Bahá’í Faith.” Many of those early laborers have passed on but Mrs. Haney is still active in Washington, D. C.

The great need for an auxiliary international language understood by everyone is emphasized at the San Francisco Conference where it was

WORLD ORDER

necessary to have a great corps of translators busy all the time. This need has been seen by some for fifty or more years. Arthur Dahl’s timely article tells us what progress is being made toward such a language which is essential in a true world society. We print this as one of our Formation of a World Society Series. Mr. Dahl is a frequent contributor to W orld Order. In January we printed his “Steps Towards Post-War Cooperation,” another in this series and in February his review of the book, The Predicament of Modern Man. Mr. Dahl is a graduate with a Master’s degree from Leland Stanford University and lives in Palo Alto with business in San Francisco.

Horace Holley contributes the editorial this month and Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick reviews the book The W orld Without Nations which proposes one way to do away with excessive nationalism and so with war.

-~THE EDITORS

[Page 193]Bah"i Literature

Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, selected and translated by

Shoghi Effendi._ The Bahá’í teachings on the nature of religion, the soul, the basis'of civilization and the oneness of mankind. Bound in fabrikoid.‘

360 pages. $2.00.

The Kitáb-i-fqdn, translated by Shoghi Effendi. This work (The Book of Certitude) unifies and coordinates the revealed Religions of the past,

demonstrating their oneness in fulfillment oi the purposes of Revelation. Bound m cloth. 262 pages. 32. 50.

Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh, selected and translated by Shoghi Effendi. The supreme expression of devotion to God; a spiritual flame

which enkindles the heart and illumines the mind. 348 pages. Bound in fabrikoid. $2.00.

Bahá’í Prayers, a selection of Prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, [the Báb and ‘Abdu’l- Baha, each Prayer translated by Shoghi Effendi. 72 pages. Bound 1n fabrikoid, $0. 75. Paper cover, 330. 35.

Some Answered Questions. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s explanation of questions concerning the relation of man to God, the nature of the Manifestation,

. human capacities, fulfillment 'of prophecy, etc. Bound in cloth. 350 pages. $1.50.

The Promulgation of Universal Peace. In this collection of His American

talks, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá laid the basis for a firm understanding of the attitudes,

principles and Spiritual laws‘ which enter into the establishment of true a Peace. 492 pages. Bound in cloth. $2.50.

The W orld Order of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘by Shoghi Effendi. On the nature of the new social pattern revealed by Bahá’u’lláh for: the attainment of divine justice in civilizatiou. Bound in fabrikoid. 234 pages. $1.50.

God Passes By, by Shoghi Effendi. The authoritative documented historical survey of the Bahá’í Faith through the four periods of its first century. The Ministry of the Báb, the Ministry of Bahá’u’lláh, the Ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the Inception of the Formative Age (19211944). In these pages the world’s supreme spiritual drama unfolds. xxiii plus 412 pages. Bound in fabrikoid. $2.50.

Bahá’í PUBLISHING COMMITTEE 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois

[Page 194]

THE BAHA’I FAITH

Recognizes the unity of God end His Prophets,

Upholds the principle of an unfettered search after truth,

Condemns all forms of superstition and prejudice,

Teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony, that it must go hand in hand with science, and that it constitutes the sole and ultimate basisof a peaceful, an ordered and progressive society. . . .

Inculcates the principle of equal' opportunity, rights and privileges for both sexes,

Advocates compulsory education, Abolishes extremes of poverty and wealth.

Exalts work performed in the spirit of service to the rank of worship,

Recommends the adoption of an auxiliary international language, .

Provides the necessary agencies for the establishment and safeguarding of a permanent and universal peace.

—SHOGHI EFFENDI.