Abdu'l-Baha in London

ABDU'L-BAHA IN LONDON
(U.K., 1982 reprint)
Filename: ABL.ZIP (FN)
Filedate: 02/19/94
Revised : 06/22/97 (3 typos corrected)

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The City Temple: Introduction

ON September 10th, the first Sunday after
&Abdu'l-Baha's arrival in England, he
spoke from the City Temple pulpit to
the evening congregation at the special
desire of the Pastor, the Reverend R. J. Campbell.
Though &Abdu'l-Baha's coming had not been
advertised the Church was filled to its utmost
capacity. Few that were there will ever forget the
sight of that venerable figure clad in his Eastern
garb, ascending the pulpit stairs to address a
public gathering for the first time in his life. That
this should be at a Christian place of worship in
the West has its own deep significance. Mr.
Campbell introduced the visitor with a few simple
words in the course of which he said: "We, as the
followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is to us
and will always be the Light of the World, view
with sympathy and respect every movement of
the Spirit of God in the experience of mankind,
and therefore we give greeting to &Abdu'l-Baha in
the name of all who share the spirit of our Master,
and are trying to live their lives in that Spirit. The
&Baha'i Movement is very closely akin to, I think I
might say is identical with, the spiritual purpose
of Christianity."
Before &Abdu'l-Baha left the Church, he wrote
in the old Bible used by generations of preachers,
the following words in his own native Persian, the
translation being added as follows:

+P18
Inscription in the Old Bible
Written by &Abdu'l-Baha in Persian

THIS book is the Holy Book of God, of
celestial Inspiration. It is the Bible of
Salvation, the Noble Gospel. It is the
mystery of the Kingdom and its light.
It is the Divine Bounty, the sign of the guidance of
God.
&Abdu'l-Baha &Abbas.

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Address given by &Abdu'l-Baha at the City
Temple
Sunday, September 10th, 1911
O NOBLE friends; seekers after God!
Praise be to God! Today the light of
Truth is shining upon the world in its
abundance; the breezes of the heavenly
garden are blowing throughout all regions; the
call of the Kingdom is heard in all lands, and the
breath of the Holy Spirit is felt in all hearts that
are faithful. The Spirit of God is giving eternal
life. In this wonderful age the East is enlightened,
the West is fragrant, and everywhere the soul
inhales the holy perfume. The sea of the unity of
mankind is lifting up its waves with joy, for there
is real communication between the hearts and
minds of men. The banner of the Holy Spirit is
uplifted, and men see it, and are assured with the
knowledge that this is a new day.
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. You
are loosed from ancient superstitions which have
kept men ignorant, destroying the foundation of
true humanity.
The gift of God to this enlightened age is the
knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the
fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease

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between nations, and by the will of God the Most
Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as
a new world, and all men will live as brothers.
In the days of old an instinct for warfare was
developed in the struggle with wild animals; this
is no longer necessary; nay, rather, co-operation
and mutual understanding are seen to produce
the greatest welfare of mankind. Enmity is now
the result of prejudice only.
In the Hidden Words &Baha'u'llah says, "Justice
is to be loved above all." Praise be to God, in this
country the standard of justice has been raised; a
great effort is being made to give all souls an
equal and a true place. This is the desire of all
noble natures; this is today the teaching for the
East and for the West; therefore the East and the
West will understand each other and reverence
each other, and embrace like long-parted lovers
who have found each other.
There is one God; mankind is one; the
foundations of religion are one. Let us worship
Him, and give praise for all His great Prophets
and Messengers who have manifested His
brightness and glory.
The blessing of the Eternal One be with you in
all its richness, that each soul according to his
measure may take freely of Him. Amen.

This Address is printed by kind permission, from The Christian
Commonwealth of September 13th, 1911. Spoken by &Abdu'l-Baha in
Persian from the city Temple pulpit, the above translation was
then read to the congregation by Mr. W. Tudor-Pole.

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St. John's Westminster: Introduction

On September 17th, &Abdu'l-Baha at the
request of the venerable Archdeacon of
Westminster addressed the congregation
of Saint John the Divine after
evening service. With a few warm words
characteristic of his whole attitude Archdeacon
Wilberforce introduced the revered Messenger
from the East, who had crossed seas and countries
on his Mission of Peace and Unity for which he
had suffered forty years of captivity and
persecution. The Archdeacon had the Bishop's
chair placed for his Guest on the Chancel steps,
and standing beside him read the translation of
&Abdu'l-Baha's address himself. The Congregation
was profoundly moved, and following the
Archdeacon's example knelt to receive the
blessing of the Servant of God--who stood with
extended arms--his wonderful voice rising and
falling in the silence with the power of his
invocation. As the Archdeacon said: "Truly the
East and the West have met in this sacred place
tonight." The hymn "O God our help in ages
past" was sung by the entire assembly standing,
as &Abdu'l-Baha and the Archdeacon passed
down the aisle to the vestry hand in hand.
Outside the Church, Salvationists were holding
their meeting and &Abdu'l-Baha was deeply
impressed and touched at the sight of the men,
women and children gathered together in the
night, at the street corner, praying and singing.

+P22
Discourse of &Abdu'l-Baha at St. John's,
Westminster.
September 17th, 1911.

O NOBLE Friends! O Seekers for the
Kingdom of God! Man all over the
world is seeking for God. All that exists
is God; but the Reality of Divinity is
holy above all understanding.
The pictures of Divinity that come to our mind
are the product of our fancy; they exist in the
realm of our imagination. They are not adequate
to the Truth; truth in its essence cannot be put
into words.
Divinity cannot by comprehended because it is
comprehending.
Man, who has also a real existence, is
comprehended by God; therefore, the Divinity
which man can understand is partial; it is not
complete. Divinity is actual Truth and real
existence, and not any representation of it.
Divinity itself contains All, and is not contained.
Although the mineral, vegetable, animal and
man all have actual being, yet the mineral has no
knowledge of the vegetable. It cannot apprehend
it. It cannot imagine nor understand it.
It is the same with the vegetable. Any progress
it may make, however highly it may become
developed, it will never apprehend the animal,
nor understand it. It is, so to speak, without news
of it. It has no ears, no sight, no understanding.

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It is the same with the animal. However much
it may progress in its own kingdom, however
refined its feelings may become, it will have no
real notion of the world of man or of his special
intellectual faculties.
The animal cannot understand the roundness
of the earth, nor its motion in space, nor the
central position of the sun, nor can it imagine
such a thing as the all-pervading ether.
Although the mineral, vegetable, animal and
man himself are actual beings, the difference
between their kingdoms prevents members of the
lower degree from comprehending the essence
and nature of those of the superior degree. This
being so, how can the temporal and phenomenal
comprehend the Lord of Hosts?
It is clear that this is impossible!
But the Essence of Divinity, the Sun of Truth,
shines forth upon all horizons and is spreading its
rays upon all things. Each creature is the
recipient of some portion of that power, and man,
who contains the perfection of the mineral, the
vegetable and animal, as well as his own
distinctive qualities, has become the noblest of
created beings. It stands written that he is made
in the Image of God. Mysteries that were hidden
he discovers; and secrets that were concealed he
brings into the light. By Science and by Art he
brings hidden powers into the region of the visible
world. Man perceives the hidden law in created
things and co-operates with it.
Lastly the perfect man, the Prophet, is one who
is transfigured, one who has the purity and

+P24
clearness of a perfect mirror--one who reflects the
Sun of Truth. Of such a one--of such a Prophet
and Messenger--we can say that the Light of
Divinity with the heavenly Perfections dwells in
him.
If we claim that the sun is seen in the mirror,
we do not mean that the sun itself has descended
from the holy heights of his heaven and entered
into the mirror! This is impossible. The Divine
Nature is seen in the Manifestations and its Light
and Splendor are visible in extreme glory.
Therefore, men have always been taught and
led by the Prophets of God. The Prophets of God
are the Mediators of God. All the Prophets and
Messengers have come from One Holy Spirit and
bear the Message of God, fitted to the age in
which they appear. The One Light is in them and
they are One with each other. But the Eternal
does not become phenomenal; neither can the
phenomenal become Eternal.
Saint Paul, the great Apostle, said: "We all,
with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory
of God, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord."

O GOD the Forgiver! O Heavenly
Educator! This assembly is adorned
with the mention of thy holy Name.
Thy children turn their face towards
thy Kingdom, hearts are made happy and souls
are comforted.
Merciful God! cause us to repent of our

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shortcomings! Accept us in thy heavenly Kingdom
and give unto us an abode where there shall
be no error. Give us peace; give us knowledge,
and open unto us the gates of thy heaven.
Thou art the Giver of all! Thou art the
Forgiver! Thou art the Merciful! Amen.

+P26
Theosophical Society: Introduction

ON September 30th, &Abdu'l-Baha met
the Theosophical society at their new
Headquarters at the express request of
their president Mrs. Annie Besant.
After a general history of the movement and
sympathetic words of welcome by Mr. A. P.
Sinnett, &Abdu'l-Baha rose and delivered to the
crowded assembly an address upon the distinctive
notes of the &Baha'i teaching, warmly commending
the eagerness of the Society in its search for
Truth.

+P27
Discourse of &Abdu'l-Baha given at the
Theosophical Head Quarters.
September 30th, 1911.

O RESPECTED Assembly! O friends of
Truth! The inherent nature of fire is to
burn, the inherent nature of electricity
is to give light, the inherent nature of
the sun is to shine, and the inherent nature of the
organic earth is the power of growth.
There is no separation between a thing and its
inherent qualities.
It is the inherent nature of things on this earth
to change, thus we see around us the change of
the seasons. Every spring is followed by a summer
and every autumn brings a winter--every day a
night and every evening a morning. There is a
sequence in all things.
Thus when hatred and animosity, fighting,
slaughtering, and great coldness of heart were
governing this world, and darkness had overcome
the nations, &Baha'u'llah, like a bright star, rose
from the horizon of Persia and shone with the
great Light of Guidance, giving heavenly
radiance and establishing the new Teaching.
He declared the most human virtues; He
manifested the Spiritual powers, and put them
into practice in the world around Him.
Firstly: He lays stress on the search for Truth.
This is most important, because the people are
too easily led by tradition. It is because of this

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that they are often antagonistic to each other, and
dispute with one another.
But the manifesting of Truth discovers the
darkness and becomes the cause of Oneness of
faith and belief: because Truth cannot be two!
That is not possible.
Secondly: &Baha'u'llah taught the Oneness of
humanity; that is to say, all the children of men
are under the mercy of the Great God. They are
the sons of one God; they are trained by God. He
has placed the crown of humanity on the head of
every one of the servants of God. Therefore all
nations and peoples must consider themselves
brethren. They are all descendants from Adam.
They are the branches, leaves, flowers and fruits
of One Tree. They are pearls from one shell. But
the children of men are in need of education and
civilization, and they require to be polished, till
they become bright and shining.
Man and woman both should be educated
equally and equally regarded.
It is racial, patriotic, religious and class
prejudice, that has been the cause of the
destruction of Humanity.
Thirdly: &Baha'u'llah taught, that Religion is the
chief foundation of Love and Unity and the cause
of Oneness. If a religion become the cause of
hatred and disharmony, it would be better that it
should not exist. To be without such a religion is
better than to be with it.
Fourthly: Religion and Science are inter-twined
with each other and cannot be separated. These
are the two wings with which humanity must fly.

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One wing is not enough. Every religion which
does not concern itself with Science is mere
tradition, and that is not the essential. Therefore
science, education and civilization are most
important necessities for the full religious life.
Fifthly: The Reality of the divine Religions is
one, because the Reality is one and cannot be two.
All the prophets are united in their message, and
unshaken. They are like the sun; in different
seasons they ascend from different rising points
on the horizon. Therefore every ancient prophet
gave the glad tidings of the future, and every
future has accepted the past.
Sixthly: Equality and Brotherhood must be
established among all members of mankind. This
is according to Justice. The general rights of
mankind must be guarded and preserved.
All men must be treated equally. This is
inherent in the very nature of humanity.
Seventhly: The arrangements of the circumstances
of the people must be such that poverty
shall disappear, and that every one as far as
possible, according to his position and rank, shall
be comfortable. Whilst the nobles and others in
high rank are in easy circumstances, the poor also
should be able to get their daily food and not be
brought to the extremities of hunger.
Eighthly: &Baha'u'llah declared the coming of
the Most Great Peace. All the nations and peoples
will come under the shadow of the Tent of the
Great Peace and Harmony--that is to say, by
general election a Great Board of Arbitration
shall be established, to settle all differences and

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quarrels between the Powers; so that disputes
shall not end in war.
Ninthly: &Baha'u'llah taught that hearts must
receive the Bounty of the Holy Spirit, so that
Spiritual civilization may be established. For
material civilization is not adequate for the needs
of mankind and cannot be the cause of its
happiness. Material civilization is like the body
and spiritual civilization is like the soul. Body
without soul cannot live.
This is a short summary of the Teachings of
&Baha'u'llah. To establish this &Baha'u'llah underwent
great difficulties and hardships. He was in
constant confinement and He suffered great
persecution. But in the fortress (&Akka) He reared
a spiritual palace and from the darkness of His
prison He sent out a great light to the world.
It is the ardent desire of the &Baha'is to put these
teachings into common practice: and they will
strive with soul and heart to give up their lives for
this purpose, until the heavenly light brightens
the whole world of humanity.
I am very happy that I have been able to talk
with you in this gathering: and hope that this
deep consciousness of mine is acceptable to you.
I pray for you, that you may succeed in your
aspirations and that the bounties of the Kingdom
may be yours.

+P31
Farewell Reception: Introduction

On the evening of St. Michael's day, a
large farewell reception was given to
&Abdu'l-Baha in the hall of the Passmore
Edwards' Settlement, which was
filled to its utmost capacity with representative
people of every profession, some coming from
great distances.
On the platform surrounding &Abdu'l-Baha
were men of different shades of thought, met to
express their sympathy with the work and mission
of their great visitor. Professor Michael E. Sadler
was in the chair.
The meeting began with the Lord's Prayer
spoken by the entire assembly; this was followed
by the prayer for Unity of &Baha'u'llah and a
prayer of the fifth Century, ascribed to Pope
Gelasius. Professor Sadler then spoke in words
that will never be forgotten by those who heard
them; and in his address used a quotation from a
Universal Prayer, which had been submitted by
an earnest &Baha'i to &Abdu'l-Baha, the year before
in Egypt and which had been completed by him
and commended as one that could be used by
peoples of all faiths in the East and West.
The Chairman was followed by Sir Richard
Stapley, Mr. Eric Hammond, Mr. Claude
Montefiore, Mrs. Stannard from Egypt, and
others. As &Abdu'l-Baha left the hall, the poor
people of the neighbourhood, crowded on the

+P32
pavement to see him and an eager-faced little
lame girl on crutches was specially brought to
him.

+P33
Meeting of Farewell to &Abdu'l-Baha.
Reprinted by kind permission, from the Christian
Commonwealth of Oct. 4th.
September 29th, 1911.

AT the invitation of Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper
about four hundred and sixty
representative people met in the hall of
the Passmore Edwards' Settlement,
Tavistock Place, last Friday evening to bid
farewell to &Abdu'l-Baha &Abbas on the eve of his
departure for Paris. Arriving in London on
Monday evening, September the fourth, he has
spent a happy and busy four weeks in our midst.
Except for a brief visit to Bristol last week he
remained at 97, Cadogan Gardens. His time was
mainly occupied in interviews with people who
wish to meet him. These included not a few whose
names are household words in this country, and
some travelled long distances to see him.
A beautiful spirit prevailed on Friday evening.
The atmosphere was very different from that of an
ordinary meeting or religious gathering. Everyone
present was enriched by the lofty spiritual tone of
the proceedings; the notes struck were all in the
direction of Brotherhood, Unity, and Peace.
While a report of the speeches would give a very
inadequate idea of the effect produced, yet they
were so well-conceived, so sincere, so exquisitely
phrased as to be all worthy of reproduction.
Among others &Amir Ali Siyyid wrote regretting

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his inability to be present, and Archdeacon
Wilberforce sent affectionate greetings.
After the Lord's Prayer and prayers for Unity
of &Baha'u'llah and Gelasius (fifth Century),
Professor Michael Sadler spoke as follows:--
Speech of Professor Michael Sadler
We have met together to bid farewell to
&Abdu'l-Baha, and to thank God for his
example and teaching, and for the
power of his prayers to bring Light into
confused thought, Hope into the place of dread,
Faith where doubt was, and into troubled hearts,
the Love which overmasters self-seeking and fear.
Though we all, among ourselves, in our
devotional allegiance have our own individual
loyalties, to all of us &Abdu'l-Baha brings, and has
brought, a message of Unity, of sympathy and of
Peace. He bids us all be real and true in what we
profess to believe; and to treasure above
everything the Spirit behind the form. With him
we bow before the Hidden Name, before that
which is of every life the Inner Life! He bids us
worship in fearless loyalty to our own faith, but
with ever stronger yearning after Union, Brotherhood,
and Love; so turning ourselves in Spirit,
and with our whole heart, that we may enter more
into the mind of God, which is above class, above
race, and beyond time.
Professor Sadler concluded with a beautiful
prayer of James Martineau.

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Mr. Eric Hammond said the &Baha'i movement
stood for unity; one God, one people; a myriad
souls manifesting the divine unity, a unity so
complete that no difference of colour or creed
could possibly differentiate between one Manifestation
of God and another, and a sympathy so
all-embracing as to include the very lowest,
meanest, shabbiest of men; unity, sympathy,
brotherhood, leading up to a concord universal.
He concluded with a saying of &Baha'u'llah, that
the divine cause of universal good could not be
limited to either East or West.
Miss Alice Buckton said we were standing at
one of the springtimes of the world, and from that
assembly of representatives of thought and work
and love, would go out all over the world
influences making for unity and brotherhood The
complete equality of men and women was one of
the chief notes of &Baha'i teaching.
Sir Richard Stapley pointed out that unity
must not be sought in the forms and externals of
religion, but in the inner spirit. In Persia there
had been such an impulse towards real unity as
was a rebuke to this so-called Christian country.
Mr. Claude Montefiore, as a Jew, rejoiced in
the growth of the spirit of unity, and regarded
that meeting as prophetic of the better time to
come, and in some sense a fulfillment of the idea
expressed by one who fell as a martyr to the
Roman Catholic faith, Sir Thomas More, who
wrote of the great Church of the Utopians, in
which all varieties of creeds gathered together,
having a service and liturgy that expressed the

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higher unity, while admitting special loyalties.
Mrs. Stannard dwelt on what that meeting and
the sentiments expressed meant to the East,
especially to the women, whose condition it was
difficult for the West to understand.
&Tammaddun'ul-Mulk testified to the unifying
effect the &Baha'i movement had had in Persia,
and of the wonderful way in which it had spread
to America and other countries.
Then &Abdu'l-Baha rose to give his farewell
address. An impressive figure, the face rather
worn but the eyes full of animation, he stood for
about fifteen minutes, speaking in soft musical
Persian. With hands extended, palms upwards,
he closed with a prayer.

Farewell words of &Abdu'l-Baha

O NOBLE friends and seekers for the
Kingdom of God! About sixty years
ago in the time when the fire of war
was blazing among the nations of the
world, and bloodshed was considered an honour
to mankind; in a time when the carnage of
thousands stained the earth; when children were
rendered fatherless; when fathers were without
sons and mothers were spent with weeping; when
the darkness of inter-racial hatred and animosity
seemed to envelope mankind and blot out the
divine light; when the wafting of the holy breath
of God seemed to be cut off--in that time
&Baha'u'llah rose like a shining star from the

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horizon of Persia, inspired with the message of
Peace and of Brotherhood among men.
He brought the light of guidance to the world;
He kindled the fire of love and revealed the great
reality of the True Beloved. He sought to destroy
the foundations of religious and racial prejudice
and of political rivalry.
He likened the world of humanity to a tree, and
all the nations to its branches and the people to its
leaves, buds and fruits.
His mission was to change ignorant fanaticism
into Universal love, to establish in the minds of
His followers the basis of the unity of humanity
and to bring about in practice the equality of
mankind. He declared that all men were equal
under the mercy and bounty of God.
Then was the door of the Kingdom set wide
and the light of a new heaven on earth revealed
unto seeing eyes.
Yet the whole &Baha'u'llah's life was spent in
the midst of great trial and cruel tyranny. In
Persia He was thrown into prison, put into chains,
and lived constantly under the menace of the
sword. He was scorned and scourged.
When He was about thirty years old He was
exiled to &Baghdad, and from &Baghdad to
Constantinople, and from there to Adrianople
and lastly to the prison of &Akka.
Yet under chains and from His cell He
succeeded in spreading His cause, and uplifting
the banner of the oneness of humanity.
Now, God be praised, we see the light of Love
shining in the East and in the West; and the tent

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of fellowship is raised in the midst of all the
peoples for the drawing together of all hearts and
souls.
The call of the Kingdom has been sounded,
and the annunciation of the world's need for
Universal Peace has enlightened the world's
conscience.
My hope is that through the zeal and ardour of
the pure of heart, the darkness of hatred and
difference will be entirely abolished, and the light
of love and unity shall shine; this world shall become
a new world; things material shall become
the mirror of the divine; human hearts shall meet
and embrace each other; the whole world
become as a man's native country and the
different races be counted as one race.
Then disputes and differences will vanish, and
the Divine Beloved be revealed on this earth.
As the East and the West are illumined by one
sun, so all races, nations, and creeds shall be seen
as the servants of the One God. The whole earth
is one home, and all peoples, did they but know it,
are bathed in the oneness of God's mercy. God
created all. He gives sustenance to all. He guides
and trains all under the shadow of his bounty. We
must follow the example God Himself gives us,
and do away with all disputations and quarrels.
Praise be to God! the signs of friendship are
appearing, and as a proof of this I, today, coming
from the East, have met in this London of the
West with extreme kindness, regard and love, and
I am deeply thankful and happy. I shall never
forget this time I am spending with you.

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Forty years I endured in a Turkish prison.
Then in 1908 the Young Turks "Committee of
Union and Progress" shook the gates of
despotism and set all prisoners free, myself among
them. I pray that blessing may be upon all who
work for Union and Progress.
In the future untrue reports will be spread
regarding &Baha'u'llah in order to hinder the
spread of Truth. I tell you this, that you may be
awake and prepared.
I leave you with prayer that all the beauty of
the Kingdom may be yours. In deep regret at our
separation, I bid you good-bye.

____________________

The translation of the valedictory having been
read by Professor Sadler, &Abdu'l-Baha closed the
meeting by giving his blessing in undulating
rhythmic tones.
By the time these lines appear &Abdu'l-Baha
&Abbas will have left our shores, but the memory
of his gracious personality is a permanent
possession. His influence will be felt for many
days to come, and has already done much to
promote that union of East and West for which
many have long yearned.

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10 Cheniston Gardens London W.
The subjoined notes are taken from "The Quarterly
Record of `Higher Thought' Work," November 1911.

ONE of the most interesting and significant
events which have taken place, has
been the visit of &Abdu'l-Baha to
London. The Persian Mage whose life,
passed in prison, has been spent in promoting
peace and unity by the one certain method of
aiding individual spiritual development, must in
a very real sense have "tasted of the travail of his
soul and been satisfied". Not only was he visited
privately by nearly every earnest truth-seeker and
leader of high thought in London, but his message
was made known to thousands who had but dimly
heard his name before.
The Higher Thought Centre was well known to
&Abdu'l-Baha as the place where the &Baha'is held
their weekly meetings under the direction of Miss
Rosenberg, and an invitation to the Centre was
accepted by him just two days before his
departure. Through his interpreter &Abdu'l-Baha
gave a kindly greeting and a short impressive
address, dwelling on the blessedness of such an
assembly gathered in a spirit of unity and
spiritual aspiration. He concluded with a lowly
uttered fervent prayer in his own tongue, and a
benediction which all present felt to be very real.
On the following day a message was conveyed
to the Centre from &Abdu'l-Baha signifying the

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fullest appreciation of all kindness shown to the
&Baha'is, and concluding with these words; "it
matters not what name each calls himself--The
Great Work is One."
"Christ is ever in the world of existence. He has
never disappeared out of it.... Rest assured that
Christ is present. The Spiritual beauty we see
around us today is from the breathings of Christ."

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A Message from &Abdu'l-Baha
Written for The Christian Commonwealth and published
September 29th, 1911.

GOD sends Prophets for the education of
the people and the progress of mankind.
Each such Manifestation of God
has raised humanity. They serve the
whole world by the bounty of God. The sure proof
that they are the Manifestations of God is in the
education and progress of the people. The Jews
were in the lowest condition of ignorance, and
captives under Pharaoh when Moses appeared
and raised them to a high state of civilization.
Thus was the reign of Solomon brought about
and science and art were made known to
mankind. Even Greek philosophers became
students of Solomon's teaching. Thus was Moses
proved to be a Prophet.
After the lapse of time the Israelites deteriorated,
and became subject to the Romans and the
Greeks. Then the brilliant Star of Jesus rose from
the horizon upon the Israelites, brightening the
world, until all sects and creeds and nations were
taught the beauty of unity. There cannot be any
better proof than this that Jesus was the Word of
God.
So it was with the Arabian nations who, being
uncivilized, were oppressed by the Persian and
Greek governments. When the Light of &Muhammad
shone forth all Arabia was brightened. These
oppressed and degraded peoples became enlightened

+P43
and cultured; so much so, indeed, that
other nations imbibed Arabian civilization from
Arabia. This was the proof of &Muhammad's
divine mission.
All the teaching of the Prophets is one; one
faith; one Divine light shining throughout the
world. Now, under the banner of the oneness of
humanity all people of all creeds should turn
away from prejudice and become friends and
believers in all the Prophets. As Christians believe
in Moses, so the Jews should believe in Jesus. As
the &Muhammadans believe in Christ and Moses,
so likewise the Jews and the Christians should
believe in &Muhammad. Then all disputes would
disappear, all then would be united. &Baha'u'llah
came for this purpose. He has made the three
religions one. He has uplifted the standard of the
oneness of faith and the honour of humanity in
the centre of the world. Today we must gather
round it, and try with heart and soul to bring
about the union of mankind.

+P44
Discourse given at Miss E. J. Rosenberg's
Unity Meeting.
September 8th, 1911.

PRAISE be to God, that such a meeting
of purity and steadfastness is being
held in London. The hearts of those
present are pure, and are turned
towards the Kingdom of God. I hope that all that
is contained and established in the Holy books of
God may be realized in you. The Messengers of
God are the principal and the first teachers.
Whenever this world becomes dark, and divided
in its opinions and indifferent, God will send one
of His Holy Messengers.
Moses came during a time of darkness, when
ignorance and childishness prevailed amongst the
people, and they were waverers. Moses was the
teacher of God; He gave the teachings of holiness
and educated the Israelites. He raised up the
people from their degradation and caused them to
be highly honoured. He taught them Sciences and
Arts, trained them in civilization and increased
their human virtues. After a while, that which
they had thus received from God was lost; the
way was prepared for the return of evil qualities,
and the world was oppressed by tyranny.
Then again the rumour of the Light of Reality
and the breathing of the Holy Spirit became
known. The cloud of Bounty showered, the Light
of Guidance shone upon the earth. The world put

+P45
on a new garment, the people became a new
people, the oneness of humanity was proclaimed.
The great unity of thought transformed humanity
and created a new world. Again, after a time, all
this was forgotten by the people. The teachings of
God no longer influenced their lives. His
prophecies and commandments became fainter
and were finally obliterated from their hearts, and
tyranny and thoughtlessness once more prevailed.
&Baha'u'llah then came and once more renewed
the foundation of Faith. He brought back the
teachings of God, and the humane practices of the
time of Christ. He quenched the thirst of the
thirsty, He awakened the careless and called the
attention of the heedless to the Divine secrets. He
declared the unity of humanity, and spread
abroad the teaching of the equality of all men.
Therefore, all of you ought with your hearts
and minds to endeavour to win the people with
kindness, so that this great Unity may be
established, that childish superstitions may pass
away, and all may become one.

+P46
Discourse at Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper's
September 13th, 1911.

&ABDU'L-BAHA said:--Thanks be to
God, this is a good meeting. It is very
enlightened, it is spiritual.
As a Persian Poet has written:--
"The Celestial Universe is so formed that
the under world reflects the upper world." That is
to say whatever exists in heaven is reflected in this
phenomenal world. Now, praise be to God, this
meeting of ours is a reflection of the heavenly
concourse; it is as though we had taken a mirror
and had gazed into it. This reflection from the
heavenly concourse we know as love.
As heavenly love exists in the supreme
concourse even so it is reflected here. The
supreme concourse is filled with the desire for
God--thank God, this desire is also here.
Therefore if we say that this meeting is
heavenly, it is true. Why? Because we have no
other desire except for that which comes from
God. We have no other object save the
commemoration of God.
Some of the people of the earth desire conquest
over others: some of them are longing for rest and
ease; others desire a high position; some desire to
become famous:--thank God our desire is for
spirituality and for union with God.
Now that we are gathered here our wish is to
raise the banner of the Unity of God, to spread

+P47
the Light of God, to make the hearts of the people
turn to the Kingdom. Therefore I thank God that
He is causing us to do this great work.
I pray for all of you, that you may become
celestial warriors, that you may everywhere
spread the Unity of God and enlighten the East
and West, and that you may give to all hearts the
love of God. This is my utmost desire, and I pray
to God that your desire may be the same.
I am very happy to be with you all. I am
pleased with the English King and Government,
and with the people.
You may thank God that in this land you are so
free. You do not know what lack of freedom there
is in the East. When anyone comes to this country
he is content.
I wish God's protection for you all. Goodbye to
you all.

+P48
Discourse by &Abdu'l-Baha given at the
Unity Meeting of Misses Jack and
Herrick.
September 22nd, 1911.

IT is a cold and miserable day but as I
was anxious to see you I came here.
For a man who has love, effort is a rest.
He will travel any distance to visit his
friends.
Thank God I see you spiritual and at rest; I
give you this message from God; that you must be
turned toward Him. Praise God that you are near
Him! The unworthy things of this world have not
deterred you from seeking the world of Spirit.
When in harmony with that world, you care not
for the things that perish; your desire is for that
which never dies and the Kingdom lies open
before you. I hope that the teaching of God will
spread throughout the world, and will cause all to
be united.
In the time of Jesus Christ there was an
outpouring of the Light from East to West that
brought the people under a heavenly banner and
illumined them with divine insight. Western
lands have been kindled by the Light of the
Christ. I pray earnestly that the Light in this
advanced age will so illumine the world that all
may rally under the banner of Unity and receive
Spiritual education.
Then those problems which cause difference

+P49
among the peoples of the earth will be seen no
more, for verily they are not. You are all waves of
one sea, mirrors of one reflection.
This day the countries of Europe are at rest;
Education has become widespread. The light of
liberty is the light of the West, and the intention
of government is to work for truth and justice in
Western countries. But ever the light of
spirituality shines from out of the East. In this age
that light has become dimmed; religion has
become a matter of form and ceremony and the
desire for God's love has been lost.
In very age of great spiritual darkness, a light is
kindled in the East. So once again the light of the
teachings of God has come unto you. Even as
education and progress travel from West to East,
so does the spiritual fire travel from East to West.
I hope that the people of the West may be
illumined by the light of God; that the Kingdom
may come to them, that they may find eternal
Life, that the Spirit of God may spread like a fire
among them, that they may be baptized with the
Water of Life and may find a new birth.
This is my desire; I hope by the will of God, He
will cause you to receive it, and will make you
happy.
In the same way that you have education and
material progress so may the light of God be your
portion.
God keep all of you in safety.

+P50
+P51
Notes of Conversations

+P52
+P53
The Arrival in London

THE evening of his arrival in London,
Monday, September 4th, 1911,
&Abdu'l-Baha said: Heaven has blessed
this day. It was said that London
should be a place for a great proclamation of the
Faith. I was tired when I went on board the
steamer, but when I reached London and beheld
the faces of the friends my fatigue left me. Your
great love refreshes me. I am very pleased with the
English friends.
The feeling that existed between the East and
the West is changing in the Light of &Baha'u'llah's
teaching. It used to be such that if an Occidental
drank from the cup of an Oriental the cup would
be considered polluted and would be broken.
Now when a Western &Baha'i dines with an
Eastern &Baha'i the vessels and the plates that he
has used are kept apart and reverenced in his
memory. &Abdu'l-Baha then gave this historic
instance of wonderful brotherly love:
One day some soldiers came to the house of a
&Baha'i and demanded that one of the guests
should be given up for execution, according to
their warrant. The host took his guest's place and
died in his stead.

+P54
London

The magnet of your love brought me to this
country. My hope is that the Divine Light may
shine here, and that the Heavenly Star of
&Baha'u'llah may strengthen you, so that you may
be the cause of the oneness of humanity, that you
may help to make the darkness of superstition and
prejudice disappear and unite all creeds and
nations.
This is a brilliant century. Eyes are now open
to the beauty of the oneness of humanity, of love
and of brotherhood. The darkness of suppression
will disappear and the light of unity will shine.
We cannot bring love and unity to pass merely by
talking of it. Knowledge is not enough. Wealth,
science, education are good, we know: but we
must also work and study to bring to maturity the
fruit of knowledge.
Knowledge is the first step; resolve, the second
step; action, its fulfillment, is the third step. To
construct a building one must first of all make a
plan, then one must have the power (money),
then one can build. A society of Unity is formed,
that is good--but meetings and discussions are
not enough. In Egypt these meetings take place
but there is only talk and no result. These
meetings here in London are good, the knowledge
and the intention are good, but how can there be
a result without action? Today the force for
Unity is the Holy Spirit of &Baha'u'llah. He

+P55
manifested this spirit of Unity. &Baha'u'llah brings
East and West together. Go back, search history,
you will not find a precedent for this.

Differences

God has created the world as one--the
boundaries are marked out by man. God has not
divided the lands, but each man has his house
and meadow; horses and dogs do not divide the
fields into parts. That is why &Baha'u'llah says:
"Let not a man glory in that he loves his country,
but that he loves his kind." All are of one family,
one race; all are human beings. Differences as to
the partition of lands should not be the cause of
separation among the people.
One of the great reasons of separation is colour.
Look how this prejudice has power in America,
for instance. See how they hate one another!
Animals do not quarrel because of their colour!
Surely man who is so much higher in creation,
should not be lower than the animals. Think over
this. What ignorance exists! White doves do not
quarrel with blue doves because of their colour,
but white men fight with dark-coloured men. This
racial prejudice is the worst of all.
The Old Testament says that God created man
like unto His own image; in the Qur'an it says:
"There is no difference in the Creation of God!"
Think well, God has created all, cares for all, and
all are under His protection. The policy of God is
better than our policy. We are not as wise as God!

+P56
Religion

To most men who have not heard the message
of this teaching, religion seems an outward form,
a pretence, merely a seal of respectability. Some
priests are in holy office for no other reason than
to gain their living. They themselves do not
believe in the religion they pretend to teach.
Would these men lay down their lives for their
faith? Ask a Christian of this kind to deny Christ
in order to save his life, and he will do it.
Ask a &Baha'i to deny any of the great Prophets,
to deny his faith or to deny Moses, &Muhammad
or Christ, and he will say: I would rather die. So a
&Muhammadan &Baha'i is a better Christian than
many so called Christians.
A &Baha'i denies no religion; he accepts the
Truth in all, and would die to uphold it. He loves
all men as his brothers, of whatever class, of
whatever race or nationality, of whatever creed or
colour, whether good or bad, rich or poor,
beautiful or hideous. He commits no violence; if
he is struck he does not return the blow. He calls
nothing bad, following the example of the Lord
&Baha'u'llah. As a safeguard against intemperance
he does not drink wine or spirits. &Baha'u'llah has
said it is not good for a sane man to take that
which will destroy his health and sense.
The religion of God has two aspects in this
world. The spiritual (the real) and the formal (the
outward). The formal side changes, as man

+P57
changes from age to age. The spiritual side which
is the Truth, never changes. The Prophets and
Manifestations of God bring always the same
teaching; at first men cling to the Truth but after
a time they disfigure it. The Truth is distorted by
man-made outward forms and material laws. The
veil of substance and worldliness is drawn across
the reality of Truth.
As Moses and Jesus brought their Message to
the people, so &Baha'u'llah brings the same
Message.
Each time God sends a Great One to us we are
given new life, but the Truth each Manifestation
brings is the same. The Truth never changes but
man's vision changes. It is dulled and confused by
the complication of outward forms.
The Truth is easy to understand although the
outward forms in which it is expressed bewilder
the intelligence. As men grow they see the futility
of man-made forms and despise them. Therefore
many leave the churches, because the latter often
emphasize the external only.

+P58
Discourse to an assembly of Theosophists.
London - September, 1911.

THESE are wonderful days! We see an
Eastern guest received with love and
courtesy in the West. I have been
drawn here, in spite of indisposition,
by the magnet of your love and sympathy.
Some years ago an Ambassador was sent from
Persia to London where he stayed five years. (His
name was &Abdu'l &Hasan &Khan). When he
returned to Persia they asked him to tell them
about the English people. He answered: "I do not
know the English people, although I have been in
London for years I have only met the people of
the Court." This man was a great man in Persia,
and was sent to England by princes, and yet he
did not know the people, although he had lived
among them five years. Now, I--long a prisoner,
come to England for the first time, and although
my visit is so short, I have already met many dear
friends, and I can say I know the people. Those I
have met are true souls working for peace and
unity.--Think what a difference there is between
this time we are living in now, and seventy years
ago! Think of the progress! the progress towards
unity and peace.
It is God's will that the differences between
nations should disappear. Those who help on the
cause of unity are doing God's work. Unity is the
Divine Bounty for this luminous century. Praise

+P59
be to God, there are today many societies and
many meetings held for Unity. Enmity is not so
much the cause of separation as it used to be; the
cause of disunion now is mostly prejudice. For
instance, years ago when Europeans visited the
East they were considered unclean and were hated.
Now it is different: when people of the West visit
those in the East who are followers of the New Light,
they are received with love and courtesy.
&Abdu'l-Baha holding a little child close to him
said, the true &Baha'i loves the children, because
Jesus says they are of the Kingdom of heaven. A
simple pure heart is near to God; a child has no
worldly ambitions.

Prejudices

The Universal Races Congress was good, for it
was intended for the furtherance and progress of
unity among all nations and a better international
understanding. The purpose was good. The
causes of dispute among different nations are
always due to one of the following classes of
prejudice: racial, lingual, theological, personal,
and prejudices of custom and tradition. It
requires a universal active force to overcome these
differences. A small disease needs a small remedy,
but a disease which pervades the whole body
needs a very strong remedy. A small lamp may
light a room, a larger would light a house, a larger
still might shine through the city, but the sun is
needed to light the whole world.

+P60
The differences in language cause disunion
between nations. There must be one universal
language. The diversity in Faiths is also a cause of
separation. The true foundation of all faiths must
be established, the outer differences abolished.
There must be a Oneness of Faith. To end all
these differences is a very hard task. The whole
world is sick, and needs the power of the Great
Healer.
These meetings teach us that Unity is good,
and that suppression (slavery under the yoke of
tradition and prejudice) is the cause of disunion.
To know this is not enough. All knowledge is good,
but it can bear no fruit except by action. It is well
to know that riches are good, but that knowledge
will not make a man rich; he must work, he must
put his knowledge into practice. We hope the
people realize and know that unity is good, and
we also hope that they will not be content to stand
still in that knowledge. Do not only say that
Unity, Love and Brotherhood are good; you must
work for their realization.
The Czar of Russia suggested the Hague Peace
Conference and proposed a decrease in armament
for all nations. In this Conference it was proved
that Peace was beneficial to all countries, and that
war destroyed trade, etc. The Czar's words were
admirable though after the conference was over
he himself was the first to declare war (against
Japan).
Knowledge is not enough; we hope by the Love
of God we shall put it into practice. A spiritual
universal Force is needed for this. Meetings are

+P61
good for engendering spiritual force. To know
that it is possible to reach a state of perfection, is
good; to march forward on the path is better. We
know that to help the poor and to be merciful is
good and pleases God, but knowledge alone does
not feed the starving man, nor can the poor be
warmed by knowledge or words in the bitter
winter; we must give the practical help of
Loving-kindness.
What of the Peace Congress?
It resembles many drunkards gathered
together to protest against the drinking of alcohol.
They say drink is horrible and they straightway
go out from the house to drink again.

Theosophy

When &Abdu'l-Baha was asked if he recognized
the good which the Theosophical Society has
done. He replied:
I know it; I think a great deal of it. I know that
their desire is to serve mankind. I thank this noble
Society in the name of all &Baha'is and for myself. I
hope that by God's help these friends will succeed
in bringing about love and unity. It is a great
work and needs the effort of all the servants of
God!

Peace

During the last six thousand years nations have
hated one another, it is now time to stop. War
must cease. Let us be united and love one another

+P62
and await the result. We know the effects of war
are bad. So let us try, as an experiment, peace,
and if the results of peace are bad, then we can
choose if it would be better to go back to the old
state of war! Let us in any case make the
experiment. If we see that unity brings Light we
shall continue it. For six thousand years we have
been walking on the left-hand path; let us walk on
the right-hand path now. We have passed many
centuries in darkness, let us advance towards the
light.
Question.--(It was remarked, Theosophy
teaches that truth in all the religions is the same):
Does the task of unifying all religions have
&Abdu'l-Baha's sympathy?
Answer.--Surely.
Question.--Can &Abdu'l-Baha suggest any lines
on which it could best be worked out?
Answer.--Search for truth. Seek the realities in
all religions. Put aside all superstitions. Many of
us do not realize the Reality of all Religions.

Divine Manifestations

Question.--What is &Abdu'l-Baha's teaching
concerning the different Divine manifestations?
Answer.--The Reality of all is One. Truth is
one. Religions are like the branches of one Tree.
One branch is high, one is low and one in the
centre, yet all draw their life from the one stem.
One branch bears fruit and others are not laden
so abundantly. All the Prophets are lights, they

+P63
only differ in degree; they shine like brilliant
heavenly bodies, each have their appointed place
and time of ascension. Some are like lamps, some
like the moon, some like distant stars, and a few
are like the sun, shining from one end of the earth
to the other. all have the same Light to give, yet
they are different in degree.

Buddhism

Some referred to the teaching of Buddha.
&Abdu'l-Baha said: The real teaching of Buddha is
the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The
teachings of all the Prophets are the same in
character. Now men have changed the teaching.
If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist
religion, you will see that there is little of the
Reality left. Many worship idols although their
teaching forbids it.
Buddha had disciples and he wished to send
them out into the world to teach, so he asked
them questions to see if they were prepared as he
would have them be. "When you go to the East
and to the West," said the Buddha, "and the
people shut their doors to you and refuse to speak
to you, what will you do?"--The disciples
answered and said: "We shall be very thankful
that they do us no harm."--"Then if they do you
harm and mock, what will you do?"--"We shall
be very thankful that they do not give us worse
treatment."--"If they throw you into
prison?"--"We shall still be grateful that they do

+P64
not kill us."--"What if they were to kill you?" the
Master asked for the last time. "Still," answered
the disciples, "we will be thankful, for they cause
us to be martyrs. What more glorious fate is there
than this, to die for the glory of God?" And the
Buddha said: "Well done!"
The teaching of Buddha was like a young and
beautiful child, and now it has become as an old
and decrepit man. Like the aged man it cannot
see, it cannot hear, it cannot remember anything.
Why go so far back? Consider the laws of the Old
Testament: the Jews do not follow Moses as their
example nor keep his commands. So it is with
many other religions.
How can we get the power to follow the right
path?
By putting the teaching into practice power will
be given. You know which path to follow: you
cannot be mistaken, for there's a great distinction
between God and evil, between Light and
darkness, Truth and falsehood, Love and hatred,
Generosity and meanness, Education and ignorance,
Faith in God and superstition, good Laws
and unjust laws.

Faith

How can one increase in faith?
You must strive. A child does not know, in
learning he obtains knowledge. search for Truth.
There are three kinds of Faith: first, that which is
from tradition and birth. For example: a child is
born of &Muhammadan parents, he is a &Muhammadan.

+P65
This faith is weak traditional faith: second,
that which comes from Knowledge, and is the faith
of understanding. This is good, but there is a
better, the faith of practice. This is real faith.
We hear there is an invention, we believe it is
good; then we come and see it. We hear that there
is wealth, we see it; we work hard for it, and
become rich ourselves and so help others. We
know and we see the Light, we go close to it, are
warmed by it, and reflect its rays on others; this is
real faith, and thus we receive power to become
the eternal sons of God.

Healing

&Abdu'l-Baha said: Disease is of two kinds:
material and spiritual.
Take for instance, a cut hand; if you pray for
the cut to be healed and do not stop its bleeding,
you will not do much good; a material remedy is
needed.
Sometimes if the nervous system is paralyzed
through fear, a spiritual remedy is necessary.
Madness, incurable otherwise,. can be cured
through prayer. It often happens that sorrow
makes one ill, this can be cured by spiritual
means.

Philanthropic Societies

Someone asked if the Humanitarian Society
was good.--Yes all societies, all organizations,
working for the betterment of the human race are

+P66
good, very good. All who work for their brothers
and sisters have &Baha'u'llah's blessing. They will
surely succeed.
&Abdu'l-Baha said: It makes me happy to see all
the believers in London. You are all, of every race
and creed, members of one family. The teaching
of &Baha'u'llah constrains you to realize your
brotherhood to one another.

Man's Comprehension of God and of
Higher Worlds

To man, the Essence of God is incomprehensible,
so also are the worlds beyond this, and their
condition. It is given to man to obtain knowledge,
to attain to great spiritual perfection, to discover
hidden truths and to manifest even the attributes
of God; but still man cannot comprehend the
Essence of God. Where the ever-widening circle of
man's knowledge meets the spiritual world a
Manifestation of God is sent to mirror forth His
splendour.

Divine Manifestations

Is the Divine Manifestation, God?
Yes, and yet not in Essence. A Divine
Manifestation is as a mirror reflecting the light of
the Sun. The light is the same and yet the mirror
is not the Sun. All the Manifestations of God bring
the same Light; they only differ in degree, not in

+P67
reality. The Truth is one. The light is the same
though the lamps may be different; we must look
at the Light not at the Lamp. If we accept the
Light in one, we must accept the Light in all; all
agree, because all are the same. The teaching is
ever the same, it is only the outward forms that
change.
The Manifestations of God are as the heavenly
bodies. All have their appointed place and time of
ascension, but the Light they give is the same. if
one wishes to look for the sun rising, one does not
look always at the same point because that point
changes with the seasons. When one sees the sun
rise further in the north one recognizes it, though
it has risen at a different point.

+P68
Notes of a conversation with &Abdu'l-Baha

A COLOURED man from South Africa
who was visiting &Abdu'l-Baha, said
that even now no white people really
cared very much for the black man.
&Abdu'l-Baha replies: Compare the present
time and the feeling towards the coloured people
now, with the state of feeling two or three
hundred years ago, and see how much better it is
at present. In a short time the relationship
between the coloured and white people will still
further improve, and bye and bye no difference
will be felt between them. White doves and purple
doves exist, but both kinds are doves.
&Baha'u'llah once compared the coloured people
to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the
white. In this black pupil you see the reflection of
that which is before it, and through it the light of
the Spirit shines forth.
In the sight of God colour makes no difference
at all, He looks at the hearts of men. That which
God desires from men is the heart. A black man
with a good character is far superior to a white
man with a character that is less good.

Ideals of East and West

One of the organizers of the Races Congress
present spoke of the Western ideals of &Baha'u'llah

+P69
as differing from those of former prophets which
were tinged with the ideas and civilization of the
East. He then asked whether &Baha'u'llah had
made a special study of Western writings, and
founded his teachings in accordance with them.
&Abdu'l-Baha laughed heartily, and said that
the books of &Baha'u'llah, written and printed
sixty years ago, contained the ideals now so
familiar to the West, but, at that time, they had
not been printed or thought of in the West.
Besides, he continued, supposing that a very
advanced thinker from the West had gone to visit
&Baha'u'llah and to teach Him, would the name of
such a great man and the fact of his visit have
been unknown and unrecorded? No! In former
days, in the time of the Buddha and Zoroaster,
civilization in Asia and in the East was very much
higher than in the West and ideas and thoughts of
the Eastern peoples were much in advance of, and
nearer to the thoughts of God than those of the
West. But since that time superstitions had crept
into the religion and ideals of the East, and from
many differing causes the ideals and characters of
the Eastern peoples had gone down and down,
lower and lower, while the Western peoples had
been constantly advancing and struggling
towards the Light. Consequently, in these days,
the civilization of the West was much higher than
that of the East, and the ideas and thoughts of the
people of the West were much nearer to the
thought of God than those of the East. Therefore,
the ideals of &Baha'u'llah had been more quickly
realized in the West.

+P70
&Abdu'l-Baha showed further how &Baha'u'llah
had exactly described in one of his books what has
since been carried out in the International
Council of Arbitration, describing its various
functions, some of which have not yet been
realized and he (&Abdu'l-Baha) would describe
them to us now, so that when they were fulfilled,
as they would be in the near future, we might
know that they had been prophesied by
&Baha'u'llah.
War was the greatest calamity that could
overtake the nations, because the people usually
employed in agriculture, trades, commerce, and
other useful arts, were taken away from their
various occupations and turned into soldiers, so
that there was great waste and loss, in addition to
the destruction and carnage of war.
&Baha'u'llah had said that the functions of the
International Court would be to settle disputes
that arose from time to time between the nations;
to define the exact boundaries of the different
countries, and to decide what number of soldiers
and guns should be maintained by each nation,
according to its population, in order to preserve
internal order. For instance, one country might
have ten thousand soldiers, another twenty
thousand, another fifteen thousand, and so on, in
accordance with the size and population of the
nation; also if any people rebelled against the
decision of the Court and rejected it, the Court
would empower the others to join their forces and
to endorse their decision, if need be, by united
action.

+P71
We had not seen any of these things actualized
as yet, but we should do so in the future.

Science and Faith

The gentleman then put a question which he
said he considered of very great importance in
connection with a religious movement, claiming
to be universal. What position he asked, if any,
did &Baha'u'llah given to the modern ideas and
conceptions of Science in his teachings. The
whole structure of modern civilization is based
upon the results and the knowledge obtained
through laborious and patient observation of facts
collected by men of Science: in some cases
through hundreds of years of painstaking
investigation. To make his meaning clearer, he
instanced the ethic, and the moral teachings of
the Chinese philosophers, than which he could
conceive nothing higher. However, these teachings
had very little effect outside of China, for the
reason he considered, that they were not
primarily based on the teachings of Science.
&Abdu'l-Baha replied that a very great importance
was given to Science and knowledge in the
writings of &Baha'u'llah, who wrote that, if a man
educated the children of the poor, who could not
themselves afford to do so, it was, in the sight of
God, as if he had educated the Son of God.
If any religion rejected Science and knowledge,
that religion was false. Science and Religion
should go forward together; indeed, they should
be like two fingers of one hand.

+P72
&Baha'u'llah had also in His writings given a
most important place to Art, and the practice of
skilled trades. He had stated that the practice of
an Art or Trade in the true spirit of service was
identical with the worship of God.
A gentleman connected with the work of a
Settlement then asked what was the best method
of raising up and civilizing the very lowest and
most degraded and ignorant of the people and
would their education come about gradually
through the enlightenment of the Spirit, or was
there any special means we could adopt to further
this end?
&Abdu'l-Baha replied that the best way was to
give them spiritual teachings and enlightenment.
He also remarked that the way to broaden the
outlook of the very narrow-hearted and prejudiced,
and to make them listen to a wider
teaching, was by showing towards them the
greatest kindness and love. The example of our
lives was of more value than words.

Converse with Departed Persons

The question was asked if it were possible to
establish communication with the dead, and
whether it was wise or advisable to attend &seances
or to engage in table-turning, spirit-rapping, etc.
The Master said these rappings, etc., were all
material things, and of the body. What is needed
is to rise above the material to the realms of the
purely Spiritual. Table-turning and such like

+P73
were material, a natural result, and not spiritual.
But it was possible to communicate with the
dead through the condition of the character and
the heart.

Are Superstitions Useful

A lady enquired whether some superstitions
might not be good for ignorant people, who, if
they were without them might perhaps be without
beliefs of any kind?
&Abdu'l-Baha replied that superstitions were of
two kinds; those that were harmful and
dangerous, and those that were harmless and
produced certain good effects.
For example, there were some poor people who
believed that misfortunes and punishments were
caused by a Great Angel with a sword in his
hand, who struck down those who stole, and
committed murder and crimes.
They thought the flashes of lightning were the
weapons of this angel, and that if they did wrong
they would be struck by lightning. This belief
caused them to refrain from evil actions.
The Chinese held a superstition that if they
burn certain pieces of paper this will drive the
devils away; they sometimes burnt these pieces of
paper on board ships when they were travelling in
order to drive away devils, and by so doing they
set fire to the ships and destroyed many lives.
This was a type of dangerous and harmful
superstition.

+P74
The Life After Death

Mrs. S. asked some questions with reference to
the conditions of existence in the next world, and
the life after death; she said that having recently
lost a very near relative, she had given much
thought to this subject. Many thought that
re-union with those we had loved, and who had
passed on to the future life, would only take place
after a long period of time had elapsed. She
wished to know whether one would be re-united
with those who had gone before immediately after
death.
&Abdu'l-Baha answered that this would depend
upon the respective stations of the two. If both
had the same degree of development, they would
be re-united immediately after death. The
questioner then said, how could this state of
development be acquired? &Abdu'l-Baha replied,
by unceasing effort, striving to do right, and to
attain spiritual qualities.
The questioner remarked that many differing
opinions were held as to the conditions of the
future life. Some thought that all would have
exactly the same perfections and virtues; that all
would be equal and alike.
&Abdu'l-Baha said there would be variety, and
differing degrees of attainment, as in this world.
The question was then asked as to how it would
be possible with no material bodies or environment
to recognize different entities and characters,
when all would be in the same conditions
and on the same plane of existence.

+P75
&Abdu'l-Baha said if several people look into a
mirror at the same moment, they behold all the
different personalities, their characteristics and
movements; the glass of the mirror into which
they look is one. In your mind you have a variety
of thoughts, but all these thoughts are separate
and distinct. Also you may perhaps have
hundreds of friends; but when you call them
before your memory you do not confuse them one
with another: each one is separate and distinct,
having their own individualities and characteristics.
Replying to another questioner, he said that
when two people, husband and wife for instance,
have been completely united in this life their souls
being as one soul, then after one of them has
passed away, this union of heart and soul would
remain unbroken.

Spiritual Relationship

In the evening of September 28th, &Abdu'l-Baha
was with a number of assembled guests.
He said all of you here are sisters. Bodily
relationships may pass; even two sisters may be
inimical to each other, but the spiritual
relationship is eternal, and brings about mutual
love and service.
Be always kind to everyone and a refuge for
those who are without shelter.
Be daughters to those who are older than you.
Be sisters to those who are of your own age.

+P76
Be mothers to those who are younger than
yourselves.
Be nurses to the sick, treasurers for the poor,
and supply heavenly food to the hungry.
A Persian doctor from &Qazvin said this was a
great work of God that the East and the West had
become so united, and we must always thank God
that the &Baha'i cause had produced such great
harmony and union between us. The result of this
visit of &Abdu'l-Baha to the West would be very
great.

+P77
A &Baha'i Wedding

QUITE an oriental note was struck
toward the end of &Abdu'l-Baha's
London visit, by the marriage of a
young Persian couple who had sought
his presence for the ceremony, the bride
journeying from Baghdad accompanied by her
uncle in order to meet her fiance here and be
married before &Abdu'l-Baha's departure. The
bride's father and grandfather had been followers
of &Baha'u'llah during the time of his banishment.
We hesitate to alter the bridegroom's description
of the service and therefore print it in his own simple
and beautiful language. It will serve to show a side
not touched on elsewhere, and without which no
idea of his visit is complete. We refer to the attitude
of reverence with which people from the East who
came to see &Abdu'l-Baha regard their great
teacher. They invariably rise and stand with bowed
heads whenever he enters the room.
&Mirza &Dawud writes:--
On Sunday morning, the 1st of October, 1911,
A.D., equal to the 9th Tishi 5972 (Hebrew Era),
Regina &Nur &Mahal &Khanum, and &Mirza
Yuhanna &Dawud were admitted into the holy
presence of &Abdu'l-Baha: may my life be a
sacrifice to Him!
After receiving us, &Abdu'l-Baha said, "You are
very welcome and it makes me happy to see you
here in London."

+P78
Looking at me he said, "Never have I united
anyone in marriage before, except my own
daughters, but as I love you much, and you have
rendered a great service to the Kingdom of &Abha,
both in this country and in other lands, I will
perform your marriage ceremony today. It is my
hope that you may both continue in the blessed
path of service."
Then, first, &Abdu'l-Baha took &Nur &Mahal
&Khanum into the next room and said to her, "Do
you love &Mirza Yuhanna &Dawud with all your
heart and soul?" She answered, "Yes, I do."
Then &Abdu'l-Baha called me to him and put a
similar question, that is to say, "Do you love &Nur
&Mahal &Khanum with all your heart and soul?" I
answered "Yes, I do." We re-entered the room
together and &Abdu'l-Baha took the right hand of
the bride and gave it into that of the bridegroom
and asked us to say after him, "We do all to
please God."
We all sat down and &Abdu'l-Baha continued;
"Marriage is a holy institution and much
encouraged in this blessed cause. Now you two
are no longer two, but one. &Baha'u'llah's wish is
that all men be of one mind and consider
themselves of one great household, that the mind
of mankind be not divided against itself.
"It is my wish and hope that you may be
blessed in your life. May God help you to render
great service to the kingdom of &Abha and may
you become a means of its advancement.
"May joy be increased to you as the years go
by, and may you become thriving trees bearing

+P79
delicious and fragrant fruits which are the
blessings in the path of service."
When we came out, all the assembled friends
both of Persia and London congratulated us on
the great honour that had been bestowed upon us,
and we were invited to dine by the kind hostess.
After a little while we gathered around the
table with him. During the meal one of the friends
asked &Abdu'l-Baha how he enjoyed his stay in
London, and what he thought of the English
people. I acted as interpreter. &Abdu'l-Baha
replied: "I have enjoyed London very much and
the bright faces of the friends have delighted my
heart. I was drawn here by their unity and love.
In the world of existence there is no more
powerful magnet than the magnet of love. These
few days will pass away, but their import shall be
remembered by God's friends in all ages and in all
lands.
There are living nations and dead nations.
Syria lost its civilization through lethargy of
spirit. The English nation is a living one, and
when in this spiritual springtime the divine truth
come forth with renewed vitality, the English will
be like fruitful trees, and the Holy Spirit will
enable them to flourish in abundance. Then will
they gain not only materially, but in that which is
far more important, spiritual progress, which will
enable them to render a greater service to the
world of humanity."
Another asked why the teachings of all religions
are expressed largely by parables and metaphors
and not in the plain language of the people.

+P80
&Abdu'l-Baha replied:--"Divine things are too
deep to be expressed by common words. The
heavenly teachings are expressed in parable in
order to be understood and preserved for ages to
come. When the spiritually minded dive deeply
into the ocean of their meaning they bring to the
surface the pearls of their inner significance.
There is no greater pleasure than to study God's
Word with a spiritual mind."
"The object of God's teaching to man is that
man may know himself in order to comprehend
the greatness of God. The Word of God is for
agreement and concord. If you go to Persia where
the friends of &Abha are many, you will at once
realize the unifying force of God's work. They are
doing their utmost to strengthen this bond of
amity. There, people of different nationalities
gather in one meeting and chant the divine tablets
with one accord. It might be supposed that they
were all brethren. We do not consider anyone a
stranger, for it is said by &Baha'u'llah `Ye are all
the rays of one sun; the fruits of one tree; and the
leaves of one branch.' We desire the true
brotherhood of humanity. This shall be so, and it
has already begun. Praise to be God, the Helper,
the Pardoner!"

+P81
The visit to Bristol

&ABDU'L-BAHA spent the week end of
September 23rd to 25th, at the Clifton
Guest House at Clifton, Bristol.
On the first afternoon, while driving,
he expressed much interest in rural England,
marvelling at the century-old trees, and the vivid
green of the woods and downs, so unlike the arid
East. "Though it is autumn it seems like spring,"
he said. The houses with their little plots of
ground, suggested a quotation which &Abdu'l-Baha
gave from &Baha'u'llah's writings in which
the latter alludes to each family having a house
with a piece of land. &Abdu'l-Baha likened the
country to the soul and the city to the body of
man, saying, "The body without the soul cannot
live. It is good," he remarked, "to live under the
sky, in the sunshine and fresh air." Observing a
young woman who rode by on horseback with her
hair flying free and several who bicycled past on
their bicycles unattended, he said, "This is the
age of woman. She should receive the same
education as her brother and enjoy the same
privilege; for all souls are equal before God. Sex,
in its relation to the exigencies of the physical
plane, has no connection with the Spirit. In this
age of spiritual awakening, the world has entered
upon the path of progress into the arena of
development, where the power of the spirit
surpasses that of the body. Soon the spirit will
have dominion over the world of humanity."

+P82
In the evening greetings were cabled to the
&Baha'is of &Tihran informing them of &Abdu'l-Baha's
presence in Bristol. He sent his love and
wished them to know that he was well and happy
with the Clifton friends. This was sent in reply to
a cablegram previously received from &Tihran
congratulating the people of the Guest House on
his prospective visit.
Later on a general reception was held, ninety
people coming to meet &Abdu'l-Baha who spoke to
them with impressive earnestness.
&Abdu'l-Baha said, "You are very welcome. I
have come far to see you. I praise God that after
forty years of waiting I am permitted at last to
come and bring my message. This is an assembly
full of spirituality. Those who are present have
turned their hearts towards God. They are
looking and longing for glad tidings. We have
gathered here by the power of the Spirit, therefore
our hearts are stirred with thanksgiving. `Send
out Thy Light and Thy Truth O God: Let them
lead us to the Holy Mountains!' May we be
refreshed by the holy springs that are renewing
the life of the world! As day follows night, and
after sunset comes the dawn, so Jesus Christ
appeared on the horizon of this world like a Sun of
Truth; even so when the people--after forgetting
the teachings of Christ and His example of love to
all humanity--had again grown tired of material
things, a heavenly Star shone once more in Persia,
a new illumination appeared and now a great
light is spreading throughout all lands.
"Men keep their possessions for their own

+P83
enjoyment and do not share sufficiently with
others the bounty received from God. Spring is
thus changed into the winter of selfishness and
egotism. Jesus Christ said `Ye must be born
again' so that divine Life may spring anew within
you. Be kind to all around and serve one another;
love to be just and true in all your dealings; pray
always and so live your life that sorrow cannot
touch you. Look upon the people of your own race
and those of other races as members of one
organism; sons of the same Father; let it be known
by your behaviour that you are indeed the people
of God. Then wars and disputes shall cease and
over the world will spread the Most Great
Peace."
After &Abdu'l-Baha had retired Tamaddun'ul-Mulk
and Mr. W. Tudor Pole gave short
addresses in which references were made to the
martyrdom of the faithful in Persia, special
mention being made of the eminent poetess
&Qurratu'l-'Ayn.
The next day was a bright Sunday and
&Abdu'l-Baha went out with his friends driving
and walking on the downs. Afterwards he
gathered the servants of the house together, spoke
of the dignity of labour and thanked them for
their service, giving to each some remembrance of
his visit. He went over the Guest house and
blessed it as a centre for pilgrims from every part
of the world, and said it would become indeed a
House of Rest.
On the morning of the third day, a Canon of
the Anglican Church met him at breakfast. The

+P84
conversation turned on the reluctance of the rich
to part with their possessions, &Abdu'l-Baha,
quoting the saying of Jesus, "How hardly shall
they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of
Heaven." He remarked that only when the true
seeker finds that attachments to the material are
keeping him from his spiritual heritage, will he
gladly enter the way of renunciation. Then will
the rich man joyfully share his worldly possessions
with the needy. &Abdu'l-Baha contrasted the
unpretentious hospitality before him with the
costly banquets of the wealthy, who too often sit
at their feasts forgetting the hungry multitudes.
He urged his hearers to spread the light in their
own homes so that finally it would illuminate the
whole community.
&Abdu'l-Baha then returned to London. It was
the earnest wish of those who had the privilege of
meeting him that his followers in other lands
should know how much the Clifton people
appreciated his visit and realized his spiritual
power and love.
Thomas Pole.
+P85
At Byfleet.

ON the afternoon of September 9th, a
number of working women of the
Passmore Edwards' Settlement, who
were spending their holidays with Miss
Schepel and Miss Buckton at Vanners, in Byfleet,
a village some twenty miles out of London, had
the great privilege of meeting &Abdu'l-Baha. They
wrote a short record of his sayings to keep for
themselves. The following is an extract:--
We gathered round him in a circle, and he
made us sit beside him in the window seat. One of
the members, who was ill, had a specially
beautiful greeting from him. &Abdu'l-Baha began
by saying, as he seated himself: "Are you happy?"
and our faces must have shown him that we
were. He then said: "I love you all, you are the
children of the Kingdom, and you are accepted of
God. Though you may be poor here, you are rich
in the treasures of the Kingdom. I am the Servant
of the poor. Remember how His Holiness Jesus
said: `Blessed are the poor!' If all the queens of the
earth were gathered here, I could not be more
glad!"
&Abdu'l-Baha knew that we had a treasury
box from which we try to help people less
fortunate than ourselves. Presently he rose, and
said: "You are dear to me. I want to do
something for you! I cannot cook for you (he had
previously seen us busy in the kitchen) but here

+P86
is something for your fund." He went round the
circle to each, with a beautiful smile, shaking
hands with all, and giving the &Baha'i greeting:
"&Allah'u'Abha!"
Later on he walked in the village, and many
poor children came to him, and mothers with sick
babies and men out of work. He spoke to them all,
through an interpreter. At tea-time other friends
joined us. &Abdu'l-Baha liked the cottage garden
at Vanners, the little orchard and the roses. He
said: "This is like a Persian garden. The air is
very pure."
On leaving for London he presented every one
with a purple heartsease from the garden, and
said again and again: "Good-bye" in English.
On the 28th September, &Abdu'l-Baha again
visited Vanners, the little farm house on the old
royal manor that dates back to the time of
Edward II. He motored down from London and
stayed over night, returning on the evening of the
second day.
&Abdu'l-Baha was much struck during the drive
by two detachments of Boy Scouts tramping the
road. When told of the Scouts' motto, "Be
Prepared," and that an act of kindness each day is
one of their laws and that some of these boys had
put out a fire and assisted at a recent railway
accident, he said. "This makes me very happy."
Arriving at Vanners, he found a large,
strangely mixed crowd, assembled about the gate
to welcome him, from the quite poor to the
wealthy who had motored over from their country
places. A great number followed him and as many

+P87
as could do so pressed into the garden and sat
down around him. The silence was most
impressive. The same attention and eagerness to
hear was noticed among the people each time
&Abdu'l-Baha appeared in the village.
After expressing his joy at being with them, he
began to speak to the little group in answer to a
question about the elaborate civilization of the
West.

The Captivity of Man

&Abdu'l-Baha said:--"Luxuries cut off the
freedom of communication. One who is imprisoned
by desires is always unhappy; the children of
the Kingdom have unchained themselves from
their desires. Break all fetters and seek for
spiritual joy and enlightenment; then, though you
walk on this earth, you will perceive yourselves to
be within the divine horizon. To man alone is this
possible. When we look about us we see every
other creature captive to his environment.
"The bird is a captive in the air and the fish a
captive in the sea. Man alone stands apart and
says to the elements, I will make you my servants!
I can govern you! He takes electricity, and
through his ingenuity imprisons it and makes of it
a wonderful power for lighting, and a means of
communication to a distance of thousands of
miles. But man himself may become a captive to
the things he has invented. His true second birth
occurs when he is freed from all material things:

+P88
for he only is free who is not a captive to his
desires. He has then as Jesus has said, become
captive to the Holy Spirit."

The Power of God

A friend asked &Abdu'l-Baha how far the
individual could attain to that Christ consciousness
in himself of which St. Paul speaks as our
hope of Glory.
&Abdu'l-Baha turned with a look of great joy
and said with an impressive gesture: "The bounty
and power of God is limitless for each human
soul. Consider what was the quickening power of
the Christ when He was on earth. Look at His
disciples! They were poor and uncultured men.
Out of the rough fisherman He made the great
Peter, and out of the poor village girl of Magdala
He made one who is a power in all the world
today. Many queens have reigned who are
remembered by their dates in history, and
nothing more is known of them. But Mary the
Magdalene is greater than them all. It was she
whose love strengthened the disciples when their
faith was failing. What she did for the world
cannot be measured. See what a divine power was
enkindled in her by the power of God!"

Inspired Messengers

When asked if it would be always necessary for
prophets to come from time to time--"would not

+P89
the world in the course of events through progress
reach to a full realization of God?"--&Abdu'l-Baha
replied: "Mankind needs a universal motive
power to quicken it. The inspired messenger who
is directly assisted by the power of God brings
about universal results. &Baha'u'llah rose as a light
in Persia and now that light is going out to the
whole world."
"Is this what is meant by the Second Coming of
Christ?" "Christ is an Expression of the Divine
Reality, the Single Essence and Heavenly Entity,
which hath no beginning or ending. It has
appearance, arising, and manifestation and
setting in each one of the Cycles."
Those who have been with &Abdu'l-Baha notice
how, often, after speaking earnestly with people,
he will suddenly turn and walk away to be alone.
At such times no one follows him. On this
occasion, when he finished speaking and went out
through the orchard gate into the village, all were
struck with his free and wonderful walk which has
been described by one of our American friends as
that of a shepherd or a king.
As he passed along the ragged children
clustered about him by dozens, the boys saluting
him as they had been taught in school, showing
how instinctively they felt the greatness of his
presence. Most noticeable was the silence of even
the roughest men when &Abdu'l-Baha appeared.
One poor tramp exclaimed "He is a good man,"
and added, "Ay, he's suffered!"
He took particular interest in the sick, crippled
and poorly nourished children. Mothers carrying

+P90
their little ones followed him, and a friend
explained that this great visitor had come over
the seas from the Holy Land where Jesus was
born.
All day long people of every condition gathered
about the gate for a chance of seeing him, and
more than sixty drove or cycled to Vanners to see
him, many wishing to question him on some
special subject. Among them were the clergy of
several denominations, a head master of a boys'
public school, a member of Parliament, a doctor,
a famous political writer, the vice-chancellor of a
University, several journalists, a well known poet,
and a magistrate from London.
He will long be remembered as he sat in the
bow window in the afternoon sunshine, his arm
round a very ragged but very happy little boy,
who had come to ask &Abdu'l-Baha for sixpence
for his money box and for his invalid mother,
whilst round him in the room were gathered men
and women discussing Education, Socialism, the
first Reform Bill, and the relation of submarines
and wireless telegraphy to the new era on which
man is entering.
During the evening a young betrothed couple
in the village, who had read some of the &Baha'i
books, begged permission to come to him. They
entered shyly, the man, led by the girl.
&Abdu'l-Baha rose to greet them, and made them
take a place in the circle. He talked earnestly to
them upon the sacredness of marriage, the beauty
of a real union, and the importance of the little
child and its education. Before they left he blessed

+P91
them, and touched their hair and foreheads with a
Persian perfume.

Education

&Abdu'l-Baha laid great stress on Education.
He said "The girl's education is of more
importance today than the boy's, for she is the
mother of the future race. It is the duty of all to
look after the children. Those without children
should, if possible, make themselves responsible
for the education of a child."
The condition of the destitute in the country
villages as well as in London impressed
&Abdu'l-Baha greatly. In an earnest talk with the
Rector of a Parish, &Abdu'l-Baha said: "I find
England awake; there is spiritual life here. But
your poor are so very poor! This should not be. On
the one hand you have wealth, and great luxury;
on the other hand men and women are living in
the extremities of hunger and want. This great
contrast of life is one of the blots on the
civilization of this enlightened age.
"You must turn attention more earnestly to the
betterment of the conditions of the poor. Do not
be satisfied until each one with whom you are
concerned is to you as a member of your family.
Regard each one either as a father, or as a
brother, or as a sister, or as a mother, or as a
child. If you can attain to this, your difficulties
will vanish, you will know what to do. This is the
teaching of &Baha'u'llah."

+P92
The Change of Heart

To one who spoke of the people's desire to
possess the land, and of the strong under-current
of rebellion on the part of the labouring classes,
&Abdu'l-Baha said: " Fighting, and the employment
of force, even for the right cause, will not
bring about good results. The oppressed who
have right on their side, must not take that right
by force; the evil would continue. Hearts must be
changed. The rich must wish to give! Life in man
should be like a flame, warming all with whom it
comes into contact. The spiritually awakened are
like to bright torches in the sight of God, they give
light and comfort to their fellows."
When asked if he did not find the manners of
the English rude and awkward, compared with
those of the East, &Abdu'l-Baha said he had not
felt this. As a nation increases in spirituality, the
the manners become different.

Christ and &Baha'u'llah

A friend asked how the teachings of &Baha'u'llah
contrasted with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
"The teachings are the same." declared &Abdu'l-Baha;
"It is the same foundation and the same
temple. Truth is one, and without division. The
teachings of Jesus are in a concentrated form.
Men do not agree to this day as to the meaning of
many of His sayings. His teachings are as a flower
in the bud. Today, the bud is unfolding into a

+P93
flower! &Baha'u'llah has expanded and fulfilled
the teachings, and has applied them in detail to
the whole world.
"There are no solitaries and no hermits among
the &Baha'is. Man must work with his fellows.
Everyone should have some trade, or art or
profession, be he rich or poor, and with this he
must serve humanity. This service is acceptable
as the highest form of worship."

Art

A painter asked: "Is art a worthy vocation?"
&Abdu'l-Baha turning to her impressively, said:
"Art is worship."
An actor mentioned the drama, and its
influence. "The drama is of the utmost importance."
said &Abdu'l-Baha. "It has been a great
educational power in the past; it will be so again."
He described how as a young boy he witnessed
the Mystery Play of &Ali's Betrayal and Passion,
and how it affected him so deeply that he wept
and could not sleep for many nights.

Symbols

Someone wished to know if it were a good
custom to wear a symbol, as, for instance, a cross.
He said: "You wear the cross for remembrance, it
concentrates your thoughts; it has no magical
power. &Baha'is often wear a stone with the

+P94
greatest name engraved on it: there is no magical
influence in the stone; it is a reminder, and
companion. If you are about to do some selfish or
hasty action, and your glance falls on the ring on
your hand, you will remember and change your
intention."

Esperanto

A friend enquired concerning &Baha'u'llah's
prophecy in the Words of Paradise, that a universal
language would be formed, and desired to know if
Esperanto would be the language chosen.
"The love and effort put into Esperanto will not
be lost," he answered, "but no one person can
construct a Universal Language. It must be made
by a Council representing all countries, and must
contain words from different languages. It will be
governed by the simplest rules, and there will be
no exceptions; neither will there be gender, nor
extra and silent letters. Everything indicated will
have but one name. In Arabic there are hundreds
of names for the camel! In the schools of each
nation the mother tongue will be taught, as well
as the revised Universal Language."

Tolstoy

The same questioner said: "I have read much
of Tolstoy and I see a parallel between his
teachings and yours. In one of his books he speaks

+P95
of the Enigma of Life, and describes how life is
wasted in our endeavour to find the Key. But
Tolstoy goes on to say: `There is a man in Persia
who holds the secret.'"
"Yes," said &Abdu'l-Baha, "I received a letter
from Tolstoy, and in it he said that he wished to
write a book upon &Baha'u'llah."

Healing

A friend interested in healing quoted the words
of &Baha'u'llah: "If one is sick, let him go to the
greatest physician."
&Abdu'l-Baha said: "There is but one power
which heals--that is God. The state or condition
through which the healing takes place is the
confidence of the heart. By some this state is
reached through pills, powders, and physicians.
By others through hygiene, fasting, and prayer.
By others through direct perception."
On another occasion &Abdu'l-Baha said with
regard to the same subject, "All that we see
around us is the work of mind. It is mind in the
herb and in the mineral that acts on the human
body, and changes its condition." The talk
developed into a learned dissertation on the
Philosophy of Aristotle.

Death

A friend asked: "How should one look forward
to death?"

+P96
&Abdu'l-Baha answered: "How does one look
forward to the goal of any journey? With hope
and with expectation. It is even so with the end of
this earthly journey. In the next world, man will
find himself freed from many of the disabilities
under which he now suffers. Those who have
passed on through death, have a sphere of their
own. It is not removed from ours; their work, the
work of the Kingdom, is ours; but it is sanctified
from what we call `time and place.' Time with us
is measured by the sun. When there is no more
sunrise, and no more sunset, that kind of time
does not exist for man. Those who have ascended
have different attributes from those who are still
on earth, yet there is no real separation.
"In prayer there is a mingling of station, a
mingling of condition. Pray for them as they pray
for you! When you do not know it, and are in a
receptive attitude, they are able to make
suggestions to you, if you are in difficulty. This
sometimes happens in sleep. but there is no
phenomenal intercourse! That which seems like
phenomenal intercourse has another explanation."
The questioner exclaimed; "But I have
heard a voice!" &Abdu'l-Baha said: "Yes, that is
possible; we hear voices clearly in dreams. It is
not with the physical ear that you heard; the spirit
of those that have passed on are freed from
sense-life, and do not use physical means. It is not
possible to put these great matters into human
words; the language of man is the language of
children, and man's explanation often leads
astray."

+P97
Someone present asked how it was that in
prayer and meditation the heart often turns with
instinctive appeal to some friend who has passed
into the next life.
&Abdu'l-Baha answered: "It is a law of God's
creation that the weak should lean upon the
strong. Those to whom you turn may be the
mediators of God's power to you, even as when on
earth. But it is the One Holy Spirit that
strengthens all men." Hereupon another friend
referred to the communing of Jesus on the Mount
of Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah; and
&Abdu'l-Baha said: "The faithful are ever
sustained by the presence of the Supreme
Concourse. In the Supreme Concourse are Jesus,
and Moses, and Elijah, and &Baha'u'llah, and
other supreme Souls: there, also, are the
martyrs."
When asked about the individual persistence of
the animal's personality after death, &Abdu'l-Baha
said: "Even the most developed dog has not the
immortal soul of the man; yet the dog is perfect in
its own place. You do not quarrel with a rose-tree
because it cannot sing!"

A True &Baha'i

A student of the modern methods of the higher
criticism asked &Abdu'l-Baha if he would do well
to continue in the church with which he had been
associated all his life, and whose language was full
of meaning to him. &Abdu'l-Baha answered: "You
must not dissociate yourself from it. Know this;

+P98
the Kingdom of God is not in any Society; some
seekers go through many Societies as a traveller
goes through many cities till he reach his
destination. If you belong to a Society already do
not forsake your brothers. You can be a
&Baha'i-Christian, a &Baha'i-Freemason, a &Baha'i-Jew,
a &Baha'i-Muhammadan. The number nine
contains eight, and seven, and all the other
numbers, and does not deny any of them. Do not
distress or deny anyone by saying `He is not a
&Baha'i!' He will be known by his deeds. There are
no secrets among &Baha'is; a &Baha'i does not hide
anything."

Spreading the Teaching

When asked by an American friend: "Which is
the best way to spread the teaching?" he said:
"By deeds. This way is open to all, and deeds are
understood by all. Join yourselves to those who
work for the poor, the weak and the unfortunate;
this is greatly to be commended. To teach by
words requires the skill of a wise physician. He
does not offer help to those who do not want
treatment. Do not press help on those who do not
need your help. The work of teaching is not for
all."
The following incident shows how &Abdu'l-Baha's
attention is given to the smallest details
where others are involved. On hearing that some
of his friends had come down from London, and
had planned to stop the night in the village so as

+P99
to be near him &Abdu'l-Baha immediately made
them his guests at the Inn, and being concerned
for their comfort, went over personally to inspect
the rooms, as the nights were getting cold.

At Brooklands

The morning of the second day, a neighbour
sent over her car asking if &Abdu'l-Baha would not
like to take his guests to the Brooklands aviation
ground. Though it was windy, an aviator was on
the track, when he heard who the visitor was
offered to fly for him. &Abdu'l-Baha left his friends
and walked out into the middle of the course,
where he stood alone watching the biplane
making wide circles above him.
A Hindu who was learning to fly at the school
joined &Abdu'l-Baha's friends and asked: "Who is
the man in Eastern dress?"
When told, he exclaimed, "Oh I know him very
well through his teachings, which I have
studied," and immediately he went to meet
&Abdu'l-Baha.
They talked together for some time in Arabic,
the young man showing great joy at being in his
presence. He afterwards said that for many years
he had longed for this moment.
While having tea out of doors, &Abdu'l-Baha
and the young Hindu, sitting at the head of the
long benches that has been arranged, talked
merrily to everyone.
&Abdu'l-Baha noticed two of the airmen who

+P100
were wrestling on the grounds, and when they
stopped, he went to them clapping his hands and
crying in English, "Bravo! Bravo! that is good
exercise."
Since his return to Egypt, &Abdu'l-Baha has
sent a kind message of remembrance to the people
of Byfleet, saying that he will never forget them.

+P101
Days in London

DURING &Abdu'l-Baha's stay in
Cadogan Gardens people arrived all
day and every day, from early morning
to nightfall, hoping for the privilege of
seeing him and of hearing him talk. Many were
the gatherings round the board of that hospitable
house and hundreds of people were made
welcome. Many came without introduction and
no one was refused. Among them were clergy of
various denominations, members of Parliament,
magistrates, and literary men.
The visitors were not only English; numerous
Persians had journeyed from &Tihran and other
Eastern cities to meet freely one who had so long
been withheld from them by his captivity.
The editor of a journal printed in Japan,
altered his return route to Tokyo in order that he
might spend the night near &Abdu'l-Baha, and a
late visit was paid by a Zoroastrian physician of
Bombay, on the eve of his return to India.

Woman's Work

&Abdu'l-Baha's interest in women's work and
progress is well known, and among the notable
leaders who came to see him, may be mentioned
Mrs. Annie Besant, President of the Theosophical
Society, the organizers of various suffrage bodies,

+P102
civic and philanthropic workers, the principals of
several woman's colleges and lady doctors.
A spirited conversation due to the visit of an
ardent suffragist will be long remembered by
those who had the privilege of being present. The
room was full of men and women, many Persians
being seated in their familiar respectful attitude
on the floor.
After contrasting the general position of the
Eastern and the Western women, and then
describing how in many respects the Eastern
woman has the advantage of her Western sister,
&Abdu'l-Baha turned and said to the visitor: "Give
me your reasons for believing that woman today
should have the vote?"
Answer: "I believe that humanity is a divine
humanity and that it must rise higher and higher;
but it cannot soar with only one wing."
&Abdu'l-Baha expressed his pleasure at this
answer, and smiling, replied: "But what will you
do if one wing is stronger than the other?" Answer:
"Then we must strengthen the weaker wing,
otherwise the flight will always be hampered."
&Abdu'l-Baha smiled and asked: "What will
you say if I prove to you that the woman is the
stronger wing?"
The answer came in the same bright vein:
"You will earn my eternal gratitude!" at which all
the company made merry.
&Abdu'l-Baha then continued more seriously:
"The woman is indeed of the greater importance
to the race. She has the greater burden and the
greater work. Look at the vegetable and the

+P103
animal worlds. The palm which carries the fruit is
the tree most prized by the date grower. The Arab
knows that for a long journey the mare has the
longest wind. For her greater strength and
fierceness, the lioness is more feared by the hunter
than the lion.
"The mere size of the brain has been proved to
be no measure of superiority. The woman has
greater moral courage than the man; she has also
special gifts which enable her to govern in
moments of danger and crisis. If necessary she
can become a warrior."

Zenobia

&Abdu'l-Baha asked the company if they remembered
the story of Zenobia and of the fall of
Palmyra. He then continued as follows, using his
hands in the grave and simple gesticulations
characteristic of him:
"There was once a Governor in Ancient Syria,
who had a beautiful and clever wife. She was so
capable that when the Governor died, she was
made ruler in his stead. The land prospered
under her sway, and men acknowledged that she
was a better ruler than her husband. After a time
the legions of Rome invaded the country, but
again and again she drove them out with great
confusion. She let down her beautiful hair, and
herself rode at the head of her army, clad in a
scarlet cloak, wearing a crown of gold, and
wielding a two-edged sword in her hand. The

+P104
Roman Caesar then withdrew his strength from
five other provinces in order to subdue her. After
a long and brave fight Zenobia retired into the
city of Palmyra, which she strengthened with
wonderful fortifications, and there she endured a
siege of four months, Caesar being unable to
dislodge her. The food she had stored within the
walls at last was gone, and the misery of her
starving and plague-stricken people compelled
her to surrender.
"Caesar was full of admiration for this great
woman, because of her courage and endurance,
and he asked her to become his wife. But she
refused, saying that she would never consent to
take as her husband the enemy of her people.
Thereupon, Caesar was enraged, and determined
to humble her. He took her back with him in his
ships to Rome. For his triumphal entry a great
procession was prepared, and the streets were
filled with people. In the procession came first
elephants, after the elephants came the camels,
after the camels came the tigers and the leopards,
after the leopards came the monkeys, and lastly,
after the monkeys, walked Zenobia with a gold
chain round her neck. Still she carried her head
high, and was firm in her determination. Nothing
could break her spirit! She refused to become the
Empress of Caesar, so she was thrown into a
dungeon, and eventually she died."
&Abdu'l-Baha ceased. Silence fell upon the
room, and it was some time before it was broken.
Upon another occasion &Abdu'l-Baha said to a
group of friends around him: "Taken in general,

+P105
women today have a stronger sense of religion
than men. The woman's intuition is more correct;
she is more receptive and her intelligence is
quicker. The day is coming when woman will
claim her superiority to man.
"Woman has everywhere been commended for
her faithfulness. After the Lord Christ suffered,
the disciples wept, and gave way to their grief.
They thought that their hopes were shattered,
and that the Cause was utterly lost, till Mary
Magdalene came to them and strengthened them
saying: `Do you mourn the body of Our Lord or
His Spirit? If you mourn His Spirit, you are
mistaken, for Jesus lives! His Spirit will never
leave us!' Thus through her wisdom and
encouragement the Cause of Christ was upheld
for all the days to come. Her intuition enabled her
to grasp the spiritual fact."
&Abdu'l-Baha then added: "But in the sight of
God sex makes no difference. He or she is greatest
who is nearest to God."
One morning &Abdu'l-Baha, on entering the
room looked about and said: "It is just like a
miracle, our being here together. There is no
racial, political or patriotic tie. We are drawn
together by the words of &Baha'u'llah, and in like
manner will all the races of the earth be drawn
together. Of this, rest assured!"

The True &Baha'i

"I have never heard of &Baha'u'llah," said a
young man. I have only recently read about this

+P106
movement, but I recognize the mission of
&Abdu'l-Baha and desire to be a disciple. I have
always believed in the brotherhood of man as the
ultimate solvent of all our national and international
difficulties."
"It makes no difference whether you have ever
heard of &Baha'u'llah or not," was the answer,
"the man who lives the life according to the
teachings of &Baha'u'llah is already a &Baha'i. On
the other hand a man may call himself a &Baha'i
for fifty years and if he does not live the life he is
not a &Baha'i. An ugly man may call himself
handsome, but he deceives no one, and a black
man may call himself white yet he deceives no
one: not even himself!"

The Coming of Peace

"By what process" continued the questioner,
"will this peace on earth be established? Will it
come at once after a universal declaration of the
Truth?"
"No, it will come about gradually," said
&Abdu'l-Baha. "A plant that grows too quickly
lasts but a short time. You are my family" and he
looked about with a smile, "my new children! if a
family lives in unison, great results are obtained.
Widen the circle; when a city lives in intimate
accord greater results will follow, and a continent
that is fully united will likewise unite all other
continents. Then will be the time of the greatest
results, for all the inhabitants of the earth belong
to one native land."

+P107
The Pure Heart

When asked for a definition of a pure heart,
&Abdu'l-Baha said, "The pure heart is one that is
entirely cut away from self. To be selfless is to be
pure."

True Spirituality

Another morning &Abdu'l-Baha began at once
to speak as he joined the group of seekers. He
said: "Praise be to God, this century is a glorious
century; may love increase every day; may it
strike fire to light the candle in the darkness, like a
gift and mercy of God.
"Know, O thou possessors of insight, that true
spirituality is like unto a lake of clear water which
reflects the divine. Of such was the spirituality of
Jesus Christ. There is another kind which is like a
mirage, seeming to be spiritual when it is not.
That which is truly spiritual must light the path
to God, and must result in deeds. We cannot
believe the call to be spiritual when there is no
result. Spirit is reality, and when the spirit in each
of us seeks to join itself with the Great Reality, it
must in turn give life. The Jews in the time of
Christ were dead, having no real life, and Jesus
actually wafted a new breath into their bodies.
Behold what has been accomplished since!"

Knowledge must result in Action

A representative from a well known society
made reference to its meetings for the purpose of a

+P108
search into the reality of truth, and &Abdu'l-Baha
said "I know of your work. I think a great deal of
it. I know your desire is to serve mankind, and to
draw together Humanity under the banner of
Oneness; but its members must beware less it
become only a discussion. Look about you. How
many committees have been formed, and living
for a little while, have died! Committees and
Societies can not create or give life.
"People get together and talk, but it is God's
Word alone that is powerful in its results.
Consider for a moment: you would not trade
together if you had no income from it and derived
no benefit! Look at the followers of Christ. Their
power was due to their ardour and their deeds.
Every effort must have its result, else it is not a
true effort. You must become the means of
lighting the world of humanity. This is the
infallible proof and sign. Every progress depends
on two things, knowledge and practice. First
acquire knowledge, and, when conviction is
reached, put it into practice.
"Once a learned man journeyed to see me to
receive my blessing, saying he knew and
comprehended the &Baha'i teachings. When I told
him that he could receive the blessings of the Holy
Spirit at any time when he put himself in a
receptive attitude to accept them, he said he was
always in a receptive attitude.
"`What would you do,' I asked `if I were to
suddenly turn and strike you?' He instantly flared
with indignation and strode angrily about the
room.

+P109
"After a little I went over and took his arm,
saying, `But you must return good for evil.
Whether I honoured you or despised you, you
should follow the teachings; now you merely read
them. Remember the words of Jesus who said,
`The first shall be last, and the last first.' The man
turned, shook my hand and departed, and I have
since heard of many kind acts he has done."
When &Abdu'l-Baha was addressed by the
name of prophet, he answered, "My name is
&Abdu'l-Baha, the Servant of God" [literally, the
Slave of Glory.]+F1

Visit to the Lord Mayor

At the express wish of the Lord Mayor,
&Abdu'l-Baha paid him a visit early one morning
at the Mansion House. The talk turned chiefly
upon the social conditions of great cities, and
&Abdu'l-Baha said that London was the best
regulated city he had seen.
He said: "Every man walking in the street is
free as if he were in his own kingdom. There is a

+F1 Compare:--"My Name is &Abdu'l-Baha. My Reality is
+F1 &Abdu'l-Baha: and Service to all the human race is my perpetual
+F1 Religion.... &Abdu'l-Baha is the Banner of the Most Great Peace
+F1 ...The Herald of the Kingdom is he, so that he may awaken the
+F1 people of the East and the West. The Voice of Friendship, of
+F1 Truth, and of Reconciliation is he, quickening all regions. No
+F1 name, no title will he ever have, except &Abdu'l-Baha. This is my
+F1 longing. This is my Supreme height. O ye friends of God!
+F1 &Abdu'l-Baha is the manifestation of Service, and not Christ. The
+F1 Servant of humanity is he, and not a chief. Summon ye the people
+F1 to the station of Service of &Abdu'l-Baha and not his Christhood."
+F1 (From a letter sent to the friends in New York, January 1st, 1907.)

+P110
great spiritual light in London. The effort made
for justice is real and in this country the law is the
same for the poor as for the rich." He took great
interest in hearing of the care that is taken of
prisoners as they leave jail, and spoke of the land
being happy where the magistrates are as fathers
to the people.
Before &Abdu'l-Baha left London, he went to an
East-end hospital to visit there a young writer
lying seriously ill, who was very anxious to see
him.

Some Personal Characteristics

There is a note in &Abdu'l-Baha's character that
has not been emphasized, and with which no idea
of him is complete. The impressive dignity which
distinguishes his presence and bearing is occasionally
lighted by a delicate and tactful humour,
which is as unaffected as it is infectious and
delightful.
On his last afternoon in London, a reporter
called to ask him of his future plans, finding him
surrounded by a number of friends who had
called to bid him good-bye. When, in answer to
this query, &Abdu'l-Baha told in perfect English of
his intention to visit Paris and go from there to
Alexandria, the press representative evinced
surprise at his faultless pronunciation. Thereupon
&Abdu'l-Baha proceeded to march with a free
stride up and down the flower-scented drawing
room, his Oriental garb contrasting strangely

+P111
with his modern surroundings; and, to the
amusement of the assembly, uttered a string of
elaborate English words, laughingly ending,
"Very difficult English words I speak!" Then, a
moment later, with the swift transition of one who
knows both how to be grave and gay, he showed
himself terribly in earnest.
He had left orders that none were to be turned
away, but one who had twice vainly sought his
presence, and was, through some oversight,
prevented from seeing him, wrote a heartbreaking
letter showing that he thought himself
rebuffed. It was translated by the Persian
interpreter. &Abdu'l-Baha at once put on his coat,
and, turning towards the door, said, with an
expression of unspeakable sadness, "A friend of
mine has been martyred, and I am very grieved. I
go out alone." and he swept down the steps. One
could then see how well the title of "Master"
became him.
Another phase of his character which none who
saw him could ever forget was his attitude
towards children who were brought to him. Many
of his talks were given as he sat with his arm
encircling one of them.
He invariably admonished the parents thus:
"Give this child a good education; make every
effort that it may have the best you can afford, so
that it may be enabled to enjoy the advantage of
this glorious age. Do all you can to encourage
spirituality in them."
One who sought the presence of &Abdu'l-Baha
realized the father-like sympathy which is his.

+P112
Speaking of his and others' love for &Abdu'l-Baha
the reply was: "I know that you love me, I can see
that it is so. I will pray for you that you may be
firm and serve in the Cause, becoming a true
servant to &Baha'u'llah. Though I go away I will
always be present with you all." These words
were spoken with the greatest loving sympathy
and understanding of difficulties; during the
moments of this little talk &Abdu'l-Baha held and
stroked the speaker's hands, and at the end took
his head and with a gentle touch drew it to him
kissing the forehead of the young man, who felt
that he had found a father and a friend.

+P113
The Farewell

ON the last morning of &Abdu'l-Baha's
stay in London many friends gathered
both at Cadogan Gardens and at the
station to bid him farewell. An
impressive and interesting ceremony was performed
at the house by a Zoroastrian (a
physician), who sent an elaborate telegram to
some &Parsis in Bombay, saying: "The Torch of
Truth has been lighted again in the East and the
West by &Abdu'l-Baha." Instructed by his
brethren, this follower of one of the most ancient
religions in the world had brought with him a
sacred oil of a rare perfume, with which he
anointed the head and breast of &Abdu'l-Baha,
afterwards touching the hands of all present. He
then placed around &Abdu'l-Baha's neck and
shoulders an exquisite garland of rose-buds and
lilies.
The last glimpse which the friends had at
Victoria Station was that of the venerable face
and form standing at the window, gazing out with
a look of benevolence and wonderful tenderness
on those he was leaving.

+P114
From an Interview given by &Abdu'l-Baha
to the Weekly Budget.
September 23rd, 1911.

SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES OF HIS
FORTY YEARS IMPRISONMENT

IN an apartment in Cadogan Gardens sits
a spiritually illumined Oriental, whose
recent advent in London marks the
latest junction of the East and West.
The teaching of &Abdu'l-Baha has already
brought about the commingling of thousands of
Englishmen and Englishwomen with Orientals
from every quarter of the East. Upon the basis of
mutual help and friendship and the worship of
God, regardless of creed and denomination, they
have joined hands with an earnestness and
brotherly love contrary to the theories of certain
cynical poets and philosophers.
Most of &Abdu'l-Baha's life has been spent in an
Eastern prison, which he gladly endured rather
than abjure his faith, one of the tenets of which is
the absolute equality of souls regardless of
physical differences, such as sex and colour. He
recognizes no class distinctions except those
conferred by service and the spirit of brotherly
love. For this and other like doctrines he was held
prisoner for forty years in the fortress city of &Akka,
in Palestine. When I requested to talk with him, I
was told to come early, and called, according, at
nine o'clock, for an interview. It was already

+P115
mid-day to &Abdu'l-Baha who rises at four, and
who had seen eighteen people before his breakfast
at half-past six.
Representatives of many languages and
nationalities awaited him in the drawing room.
We sat in a circle facing &Abdu'l-Baha who
inquired if there were any questions we would like
to ask. I said my editor had sent me to ascertain
something of his prison life, and &Abdu'l-Baha at
once related in a simple impersonal way one of
the most remarkable stories conceivable.
"At nine years of age, I accompanied my
father, &Baha'u'llah, in his journey of exile to
&Baghdad, seventy of his disciples going with us.
This decree of exile, after persistent persecution,
was intended to effectively stamp out of Persia
what the authorities considered a dangerous
religion. &Baha'u'llah, with his family and
followers, was banished, and travelled from one
place to another. When I was about twenty-five
years old, we were moved from Constantinople to
Adrianople, and from there went with a guard of
soldiers to the fortressed city of &Akka, where we
were imprisoned and closely guarded."

The First Summer

"We had no communication whatever with the
out-side world. Each loaf of bread was cut open
by the guard to see that it contained no message.
All who believed in the &Baha'i manifestation,
children, men and women, were imprisoned with
us. There were one-hundred and fifty of us

+P116
together in two rooms and no one was allowed to
leave the place with the exceptions of four persons,
who went to the bazaar to market each morning,
under guard. The first summer was dreadful.
&Akka is a fever-ridden town. It was said that a
bird attempting to fly over it would drop dead.
The food was poor and insufficient, the water was
drawn from a fever-infected well and the climate
and conditions were such, that even the natives of
the town fell ill. Many soldiers succumbed and
eight out of ten of our guard died. During the
intense heat, malaria, typhoid and dysentery
attacked the prisoners, so that all, men, women
and children, were sick at one time. There were
no doctors, no medicines, no proper food, and no
treatment of any kind.
"I used to make broth for the people, and as I
had much practice, I make good broth," said
&Abdu'l-Baha laughingly.
At this point one of the Persians explained to
me that it was on account of &Abdu'l-Baha's
wonderful patience, helpfulness, and endurance
that he was always called "The Master." One
could easily feel his mastership in his complete
severance from time and place, and absolute
detachment from all that even a Turkish prison
could inflict.

Better Conditions

"After two years of the strictest confinement
permission was granted me to find a house so that
we could live outside the prison walls but still

+P117
within the fortifications. Many believers came
from Persia to join us but they were not allowed to
do so. Nine years passed. Sometimes we were
better off and sometimes very much worse. It
depended on the governor, who, if he happened to
be a kind and lenient ruler, would grant us
permission to leave the fortification, and would
allow the believers free access to visit the house;
but when the governor was more rigorous, extra
guards were placed around us, and often pilgrims
who had come from afar were turned away."
I learned, afterwards, from a Persian, who,
during these troublous times, was a member of
&Abdu'l-Baha's household, that the Turkish
government could not credit the fact that the
interest of the English and American visitors was
purely spiritual and not political. Often these
pilgrims were refused permission to see him, and,
many times, the whole trip from America would
be rewarded merely by a glimpse of &Abdu'l-Baha
from his prison window.
The Government thought that the tomb of the
&Bab, an imposing building on Mount Carmel,
was a fortification erected with the aid of
American money, and that it was being armed
and garrisoned secretly. Suspicion grew with each
new arrival, resulting in extra spies and guards.

&Abdu'l-Hamid's Committee

"One year before &Abdu'l-Hamid was
dethroned, he sent an extremely overbearing,
treacherous and insulting committee of investigation.

+P118
The chairman was one of the governor's
staff, &Arif Bey, and with him were three army
commanders varying in rank.
"Immediately upon his arrival, &Arif Bey
proceeded to denounce me and tried to get proof
strong enough to warrant sending me to &Fizan, or
throwing me into the sea. &Fizan is a caravan
station on the boundary of Tripoli where there are
no houses and no water. It is a month's journey
by camel route from &Akka.
"The committee twice sent for me to hear what
I had to say in my own defence and twice I sent
back word: `I know your purpose, I have nothing
to say.'
"This so infuriated &Arif Bey that he declared
he would return to Constantinople and bring
back an order from the &Sultan to have me hanged
at the gate of &Akka. He and his committee set sail
with their report containing the following
accusations:--&Abdu'l-Baha is establishing a new
nation of which he is to be the king; &Abdu'l-Baha
is uplifting the banner of a new religion;
&Abdu'l-Baha has built or caused to be built
fortifications in Haifa, a neighbouring village, and
is buying up all the surrounding lands.'
"About this time an Italian ship appeared in
the harbour sent by order of the Italian Consul. It
had been planned that I was to escape on it by
night. The &Baha'is in &Akka implored me to go but
I sent this message to the captain: `The &Bab did
not run away: &Baha'u'llah did not run away; I
shall not run away, so the ship sailed away after
waiting three days and three nights.

+P119
"It was while the &Sultan's committee of
investigation was homeward bound that the first
shell was dropped into &Abdu'l-Hamid's camp
and the first gun of freedom was fired into the
home of despotism. That was God's gun," said
&Abdu'l-Baha, with one of his wonderful smiles.
"When the committee reached the Turkish
capital, they had more urgent things to think of.
The city was in a state of uproar and rebellion,
and the committee, as members of the government
staff, were delegated to investigate the
insurrection. Meanwhile the people were establishing
a constitutional government and &Abdu'l-Hamid
was given no chance to act."

The Release

"With the advent of the Young Turks'
supremacy, realized through the Society of Union
and Progress, all the political prisoners of the
Ottoman Empire were set free. Events took the
chains from my neck and placed them about
&Hamid's; &Abdu'l-Baha came out of prison and
&Abdu'l-Hamid went in!"
"What became of the committee?" asked
someone, breaking the deep silence that followed
the recital of this thrilling page of history. "&Arif
Bey," continued &Abdu'l-Baha, "was shot with
three bullets, the general was exiled, the next in
rank died, and the third ran away to Cairo, where
he sought and received help from the &Baha'is."
"Will you tell us how you felt while in prison

+P120
and how you regard your freedom?" I asked. "We
are glad that you are free."
"Thank you," he said graciously, and continuing--
"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.
"Unless one accepts dire vicissitudes, he will
not attain. To me prison is freedom, troubles rest
me, death is life, and to be despised is honour.
Therefore, I was happy all that 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. When they put my feet in
stocks, I would say to the guard, `You cannot
imprison me, for here I have light and air and
bread and water. There will come a time when
my body will be in the ground, and I shall have
neither light nor air nor food nor water, but even
then I shall not be imprisoned.' The afflictions
which come to humanity sometimes tend to
centre the consciousness upon the limitations,
and this is a veritable prison. Release comes by
making of the will a Door through which the
confirmations of the Spirit come."
This sounded so like the old theology that the
modern in me rose doubting if the discipline could
be compensated for by the effort. "What do you
mean by the confirmations of the Spirit?"

+P121
"The confirmations of the Spirit are all those
powers and gifts which some are born with (and
which men sometimes call genius), but for which
others have to strive with infinite pains. They
come to that man or woman who accepts his life
with radiant acquiescence."
Radiant acquiescence--that was the quality
with which we all suddenly seemed inspired as
&Abdu'l-Baha bade us good-bye.
It was a remarkable experience, hearing one
who had passed along the prison path for forty
years declare "There is no prison but the prison
self;" and it drove conviction to one's mind as this
white-robed messenger from the East pointed the
way out,--not by the path called "Renunciation,"
but "Unattachment;" Radiant Acquiescence--
the Shining Pathway out of the "greater prison of
self" as &Abdu'l-Baha so beautifully terms those
bars that keep us from our fulfillment.
Isabel Fraser.

+P122
A Loving Farewell Greeting.

After leaving London and during his
two months stay in Paris, &Abdu'l-Baha
frequently sent back messages to his
English friends, some of whom journeyed
over to take advantage of the conferences
there. On the eve of his departure for Alexandria,
he gave the following admonitory farewell to the
people of England and France.
"Work," he said unceasingly, "for the day of
Universal Peace. Strive always that you may be
united. Kindness and love in the path of service
must be your means.
"I bid a loving farewell to the people of France
and England. I am very much pleased with them.
I counsel them that they may day by day
strengthen the bond of love and amity to this
end,--that they may become the sympathetic
embodiment of one nation.--That they may
extend themselves to a Universal Brotherhood to
guard and protect the interests and rights of all
the nations of the East,--that they may unfurl the
Divine Banner of justice,--that they may treat
each nation as a family composed of the
individual children of God and may know that
before the sight of God the rights of all are equal.
For all of us are the children of one Father. God is
at peace with all his children; why should they
engage in strife and warfare among themselves?
God is showering down kindness; why should the

+P123
inhabitants of this world exchange unkindness
and cruelty?"
"I will pray for you that you may be illumined
with the Light of the Eternal."

+P124
Greetings by &Abdu'l-Baha from Paris to
London. October 1911.

Spoken to Mrs. Enthoven for conveyance to all the friends,
and now written from memory.

&ABDU'L-BAHA sent his greetings to all,
begging all to go on acquiring strength in
their belief and courage in its proclamation.
He spoke much of the pleasure he had felt in
the atmosphere of England. He said there was a
strength of purpose in the English people and a
firmness which he liked and admired, There was
honesty and uprightness. They were slow in
starting a new idea, but, when they did, it was
only because their minds and common-sense had
told them that the idea was sound.
The English as a nation had pleased him
greatly.
Believers, he added, must show their belief in
their daily lives, so that the world might see the
light shining in their faces. A bright and happy
face cheers people on their way. If you are sad,
and pass a child who is laughing, the child, seeing
your sad face, will cease to laugh, not knowing
why. If the day be dark, how much a gleam of
sunshine is prized; so let believers wear smiling
happy faces, gleaming like sunshine in the
darkness. Let the Light of Truth and Honesty
shine from them, so that all who behold them may

+P125
know that their word in business or pleasure will
be a word to trust and depend upon.
Forget self and work for the whole race.
Remember always that one is working for the
world, not for a town or even for a country;
because, as all are brethren, so every country is,
as it were, one's own.
Remember, above all, the teaching of &Baha'u'llah
concerning gossip and unseemly talk
about others. Stories repeated about others are
seldom good. A silent tongue is the safest. Even
good may be harmful, if spoken at the wrong
time, or to the wrong person.
Finally &Abdu'l-Baha sent his greetings and
blessings to all, and assured me he was constantly
thinking and praying for all.
To a gentleman who was questioning him, he
remarked "The beginnings of all great religions
were pure; but priests, taking possession of the
minds of the people, filled them with dogmas and
superstitions, so that religion became gradually
corrupt. I come to teach no new religion. `My
only desire is, through the blessing of God, to
show the road to the Great Light." Touching the
gentleman gently on his shoulder, as a loving
father might touch a son, he went on to say, "I am
no Prophet, only a man like yourself."

+P126
November 26th, 1911.
Message to the London &Baha'is for the
Day of &Abdu'l-Baha.
Specially given to Mrs. Enthoven.

GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The doors of the Kingdom of God are
open!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
Armies of Angels are descending from Heaven!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Sun of Truth is rising!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
Heavenly food is being sent from above!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Trumpet is sounding!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Banner of the Great Peace is floating far and
wide!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Light of the Lamp of the Oneness of
Humanity is shining bright!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The fire of the Love of God is blazing!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Holy Spirit is being outpoured!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
For Everlasting Life is here!

O Ye that sleep, Awake!
O ye heedless ones, Learn wisdom!
O Blind, receive your sight!

+P127
O Deaf, Hear!
O Dumb, Speak!
O Dead, Arise!

Be Happy!
Be Happy!
Be full of Joy!

This is the day of the Proclamation of the &Bab!
It is the Festival of the Forerunner of the Blessed
Beauty (&Baha'u'llah).
It is the day of the dawning of the Morning of
Guidance.